The Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation and Promotion of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
The Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation and Promotion of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was created in 1993 to support the new UNESCO programme on the intangible cultural heritage.
The concept of intangible heritage includes oral traditions, know-how of handicraft, languages, performing arts, rituals.. Japan, where this concept had been recognized legally since 1950 (Cultural Property Law), decided to put this wide experience at the disposal of the programme.
This Funds-in-Trust finances concrete preservation and promotion projects aimed at making inventories, creating audio-visual documents, organizing workshops (transmission of knowledge), shows for the public, research seminars. (Read more on the projects)
The intangible heritage is endangered if there is no transmission from one generation to another, and can sometimes completely sink into oblivion. For example, in Uzbekistan, today's glazed ceramic tiles are much less resistant than those made during the medieval period, as the know-how has disappeared (UNESCO/Japan Project "Blue of Samarkand" 2000).
As regards the 6000 languages of the world, more than 50% are endangered (UNESCO/Japan Project "Atlas of endangered languages in the world" 1994-1996/2001). The globalization process has accelerated this phenomenon.
In 2003, the total amount of contributions to this Fund amounted to about 9 million dollars.
Links :
Page of UNESCO's website dedicated to this Fund
Presentation of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
Focus on projects
:
BOLIVIA : Action Plan for the Safeguarding of the Oruro Carnival
BOLIVIA :"The Andean Cosmovision of the Kallawaya"
CHINA :Safeguarding, Revitalization and Promotion of the Kunqu Opera
COLOMBIA : Action Plan for the Safeguarding of the Carnival of Barranquilla
CUBA : Action Plan for the Safeguarding of “La Tumba Francesa”
INDIA : Safeguarding and Transmission of the Kutiyattam Sanskrit Theatre
LITHUANIA : the Safeguarding and Revitalization of Lithuanian Cross Crafting and Its Symbolism
MADAGASCAR : Action Plan for the Safeguarding of the Woodcrafting Knowledge of the Zafimaniry
MONGOLIA : Implementation of the National Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Traditional Morin Khuur Music
MOROCCO : Preservation, Revitalization and Promotion of Jemaa el-Fna Square, Marrakech
PHILIPPINES : Safeguarding and Transmission of the Hudhud Chants of the Ifugao
REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA : Safeguarding and Promotion of Georgian Traditional Polyphony
REPUBLIC of KYRGYSTAN : Safeguarding of the Art of the Akyns, Kyrgyz Epic Tellers
TAJIKISTAN/UZBEKISTAN : Safeguarding Shashmaqom, the Classical Music of Central Asia
TONGA : Safeguarding of Lakalaka, Sung Speeches with Choreographed Movements
UZBEKISTAN : “The Blue of Samarkand” : Project for the Revival of Medieval Ishkor Alkaline Vegetable Glaze, Used in the Past For Both Architectural Glazed Tiles and Utilitarian Pottery and Follow-up to the Blue of Samarkand Project: National Inventory and Revival of the Traditional Ceramics of Uzbekistan
VANUATU : Safeguarding of Vanuatu Sand Drawings
VIET NAM : Safeguarding of Nha nhac, Vietnamese Court Music
Document:
Archive : General overview of the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation and Promotion of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (context, presentation of projects, list of projects, photos.). Extracts from the booklet "UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust for the Intangible Cultural Heritage" published by UNESCO in 2001. (PDF format)
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