Media Advisory

UNESCO TO MAKE FIRST PROCLAMATION OF MASTERPIECES OF THE ORAL AND INTANGIBLE HERITAGE

Paris, May 14 – UNESCO will for the first time ever award the title of “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” on Friday, May 18 (Room XI, 3 p.m.), to cultural spaces and forms of cultural expression from the different regions of the world.

The proclamation will be made by the Director-General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura, at the close of a meeting of the international jury in charge of assessing the approximately 30 candidatures. The jury, chaired by Spanish author Juan Goytisolo, numbers 18 members, appointed by the Director-General for four years. Its meeting will start on Tuesday May 15 at 10 a.m. in Room X. The opening session will be open to the press.

The title of “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” will be awarded to outstanding cultural spaces or forms of expression. Forms of traditional and popular cultural expression include languages, oral literature (notably myths, epics, tales), music, dance, games, rituals, customs and know-how applied to crafts, architecture and other arts. The term of cultural space is used to designate physical or temporal spaces in which recurrent, regular or occasional cultural events occur.

The following criteria are used in the selection process: outstanding value; roots in cultural tradition; affirmation of cultural identity, source of inspiration and intercultural exchange, contemporary cultural and social role; excellence in the application of skills; unique testimony of living cultural tradition; risk of disappearing. The project, aiming to preserve traditional and popular culture, has been designed to complement the action undertaken by UNESCO since 1972 with its World Heritage List which presently features 690 natural and cultural sites. It is largely financed from extra budgetary funds. Proclamations will be made every two years.

The proclamation ceremony will begin with the performance of traditional Uzbek songs by Munojat Yulchieva who is a member of the jury. After the proclamation by the Director-General, and a closing address by the Chair of the Jury, a meeting with the press will take place in the same room.

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