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First national capacity-building for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Italy
Since communities are at the heart of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, the capacity-building programme took an inclusive approach to ensure the widest possible participation of all relevant stakeholders in the design and implementation of safeguarding activities.
Managed by UNESCO through its Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, in close cooperation with the UNESCO Unit of the General Secretariat of the Italian Ministry of Culture, the course was the first of its kind to be organised at the national level. It included 15 online weekly sessions, held from 15 September 2023 to 26 January 2024, with a view to increasing the awareness, knowledge and skills of relevant actors, while advancing countrywide networking and cooperation.
The course was aligned with UNESCO鈥檚 Global capacity-building programme for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and framed within the as part of the activities promoted by the Italian Observatory for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Primary beneficiaries of the course were communities involved with the and the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices, as well as staff from relevant institutions, civil society organisations, researchers, and other practitioners in the field of living heritage. The course gathered a variety of ICH-related actors, reinforcing existing cooperation networks and allowed for fruitful and enriching exchanges of knowledge and experience.
The ICH capacity-building course for Italy enabled peer-to-peer support for common challenges faced by participating communities with the shared goal of better safeguarding intangible cultural heritage at both national and international level.
Collaboration and constructive dialogue as tools for development
The training contents of the course, delivered by Vanessa Achilles and Benedetta Ubertazzi, members of UNESCO鈥檚 Global network of facilitators for the safeguarding of Living Heritage, covered the main principles, objectives, processes and actors of the 2003 Convention. The programme also focused on specific topics such as community-based participation, developing safeguarding plans and measures, ensuring the respect of ethical principles, as well as the link between intangible cultural heritage and sustainable development, gender and education.
The programme included face-to-face presentations, discussions, exercises on real case studies, and group and individual work assignments. This variety of tools allowed for dynamic interactions between the participants, whose continued interest is attested by the high level of attendance throughout the course.
During the last 3 sessions, participants were invited to present their ICH elements and the safeguarding measures that have either been implemented, or are being jointly designed to better preserve their heritage. This was done in accordance with the spirit of the Convention, and particularly the central role and responsibility assigned to communities in safeguarding their ICH elements.
Listening to real experiences implemented on the territory allowed participants to gain valuable insights. We saw their willingness to deepen and expand the knowledge exchanged between communities and to being part of a network where they could discuss needs and challenges.
Advancing the protection of Italian cultural heritage through a community-based approach
In parallel, participants held dedicated 鈥渃linics鈥 with facilitators, in the form of bilateral sessions, which were identified as a highly valuable tool. Different issues were examined according to the specificities of single ICH elements and the needs and priorities of the concerned communities.
The course was welcomed positively by participants, who appreciated the variety of perspectives proposed on the safeguarding of ICH and the possibility to deepen their knowledge of other Italian elements inscribed on the List.
Feedback received, both during the course and through the final evaluation, showed that the course accomplished its original objective to equip participants with the skills, knowledge and competencies to effectively safeguard living heritage in line with their respective roles and responsibilities. Participants also expressed their hope that the programme would continue, involving more communities and expanding the existing network.
In addition to commending participants for their active engagement in the course, both UNESCO and the Italian Ministry of Culture concluded by re-affirming their shared commitment to supporting communities, groups and individuals in better safeguarding their living heritage, as a key resource for sustainable development and a driving force for cultural diversity, in the face of global challenges.
鈥On behalf of the Ministry of Culture of Italy, I wish to thank all the communities that actively participated in this first capacity-building course, inaugurated by Undersecretary of State Gianmarco Mazzi. Their contribution is pivotal in our common endeavour to safeguard and promote Intangible Cultural Heritage, and notably, to devise innovative policies and strategies broadening the range of opportunities related to this very specific form of heritage,鈥 declared Mariassunta Peci, Head of Service II - UNESCO Unit and Service III - International Relations, General Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture of Italy.
The Ministry, also through the Italian Observatory for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, stands ready to support communities in fulfilling their needs and priorities, while fostering research, knowledge sharing, and continuous dialogue.
