Workshop II – Intangible Cultural Heritage, Museums and Digital Society: EU Policies in the Mediterranean Region

Module 1- Intangible Cultural Heritage and Museums: EU Policies and case studies from the Mediterranean Region (3h)

Trainer: Ana Carvalho (CIDEHUS & UNESCO Chair – University of Évora)

Module description:

By signing the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICHC), states parties commit to implementing its guidelines in national contexts, adapting policies, procedures, and heritage management systems to include the UNESCO principles and an understanding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), as well as considering community participation central to safeguarding processes. There are today 181 State Parties to the ICHC, including from the Mediterranean Region. For many of these countries, this has resulted in framing new discourses, policies and practices that have contributed to a new reflection on how ICH is understood and how safeguarding is approached. In this new framework museums have been regarded as relevant actors and called upon to have a more active role in approaching ICH safeguarding. This workshop will help to better understand EU policies concerning ICH, reflecting on the challenges posed.

Learning objectives:

• Introduce and problematize the concepts and approaches envisaged by the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage;
• Discuss EU Policies towards ICH safeguarding;
• Analyse the role of museums in ICH safeguarding;
• Present case studies and good practices in safeguarding ICH.

Workshop Format: Expository session and interactive class, group discussion in the classroom on previously suggested readings, research and exploration of online information.