Practical Considerations for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage examines theoretical issues relating to intangible cultural heritage policy and practice, whilst also proposing practical ways to facilitate the safeguarding of such heritage. Providing guidelines for best practice that take into account the constraints of the UNESCO-ICH paradigm, Stefano examines the principles and practices of two alternative and largely non-UNESCO frameworks for sustaining living cultural traditions: the philosophy of ecomuseology, and the discipline of public folklore in the context of the U.S. Arguing that they offer more collaborative, equitable, and effective ways forward for safeguarding ICH, Stefano demonstrates how they can address the limitations of the UNESCO-ICH paradigm. Importantly, the book offers a personal perspective, grounded in the author’s public sector work, which allows the ICH discourse to move beyond critical analysis and explore realistic, alternative ways in which ICH can be collaboratively and equitably safeguarded. Practical Considerations for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage proposes guidelines for professionals, researchers, and communities that foster safeguarding approaches that are as unique and nuanced as ICH expressions themselves. The interdisciplinary nature of the book will ensure that it is useful to those interested in community-led ICH safeguarding, as well as the impacts of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention, in diverse geographic, political, economic, and sociocultural contexts.

Wide-ranging essays on intangible cultural heritage, with a focus on its negotiation, its value, and how to protect it.

This volume examines the implications and consequences of the idea of ‘intangible heritage’ to current international academic and policy debates about the meaning and nature of cultural heritage and the management processes developed to protect it. It provides an accessible account of the different ways in which intangible cultural heritage has been defined and managed in both national and international contexts, and aims to facilitate international debate about the meaning, nature and value of not only intangible cultural heritage, but heritage more generally. Intangible Heritage fills a significant gap in the heritage literature available and represents a significant cross section of ideas and practices associated with intangible cultural heritage. The authors brought together for this volume represent some of the key academics and practitioners working in the area, and discuss research and practices from a range of countries, including: Zimbabwe, Morocco, South Africa, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, USA, Brazil and Indonesia, and bring together a range of areas of expertise which include anthropology, law, heritage studies, archaeology, museum studies, folklore, architecture, Indigenous studies and history.

Bringing together key insights from expert legal and heritage academics and practitioners, this book explores the existence and safeguarding of contemporary forms of intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Providing a detailed analysis of the international legal frameworks relevant to ICH, the contributing authors then go on to challenge the pervasive view that heritage is about ‘old’ tangible objects by highlighting the existence, role and importance of contemporary forms of ICH to modern society.

This book brings together a broad selection of essays from a variety of disciplines - anthropology, law, history - and from those with a professional involvement in areas that touch on intangible cultural heritage (ICH). The main stimulus for producing this volume was the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2003. This is a subject that has aroused a great deal of interest from governments to practitioners around the world. However, it remains relatively poorly understood and requires further deep consideration and sharing of ideas and experiences for truly effective and appropriate safeguarding policies to be developed. Specific issues relating to the implementation the 2003 Convention are also examined - the inscription of ICH on international lists and the intellectual property (IP)-related issues related to inventorying ICH. Finally, the paradoxes and complexities of the interaction between human rights (especially cultural rights) and UNESCO's work in safeguarding ICH are also considered, in the context of universalism, cultural relativism and cultural rights.

This open access book offers an interdisciplinary perspective and presents various case studies on music as ICH, highlighting the importance and functionality of music to stimulating social innovation and entrepreneurship., Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) covers the traditions or living expressions proposed by the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in five areas, including music. To understand the relationship between immaterial and material uses and inherent cultural landscapes, this open access book analyzes the symbolic, political, and economic dimensions of music. The authors highlight the continuity and current functionality of these artistic forms of expression as well as their lively and changing character in continuous transformation. Topics include the economic value and impact of music, strategies for social innovation in the music sector, music management, and public policies to promote cultural and creative industries. [Resumen de la editorial]

This book provides a systemic understanding of how intangible cultural heritage (ICH) can promote sustainable development. It offers new insights on the identity-building potential of heritage practices as ‘enabler’ of development and their capacity to generate social and economic profits as ‘driver’ of development. Based on Pierre Bourdieu’s ‘Theory of Practice’, a model for the valorisation of ICH is presented, which may serve as a tool to stimulate the developmental potentials of heritage on a practical level. The functioning of the valorisation model is exemplified with a case study on a German choral tradition, which has not been officially nominated as ICH. Therewith, it is shown how the model can be applied to utilise the developmental potentials of ICH - as promoted in the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003) – even beyond UNESCO’s scope. This book is of interest to cultural heritage scholars.