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In Focus
8 November 2005
Intangible Heritage: Safeguarding Measures

Industrialization, urbanization, migration, environmental deterioration, and mass tourism : all of these tokens of modernity are a threat to the transmission of human know-how and creativity. The international community is consequently making determined moves to prevent any risk of cultural uniformity and loss of collective memory. A first step was taken in 2003 with the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which to date has been ratified by 26 of UNESCO’s Member States. UNESCO will organize on 25 November 2005 the Third Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, which aims at celebrating and safeguarding selected elements of the intangible cultural heritage.


Vanuatu Sand Drawing © Unesco
Intangible cultural heritage: A definition
Talented tradition bearers and craftspeople: “Living Human Treasures”

Language vitality and disappearance: Recommendation concerning the safeguarding of endangered languages
Popular or traditional forms of expression and cultural spheres: Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
Living traditional music: UNESCO Collection of Traditional Music of the World
News and Events

5TH International Award Exhibition: Design 21 Paris, France
02 - 18 11 2005  This exhibition includes 30 of the best entries submitted by young designers and 50 original works, based on the theme “Love/Why?”, by renowned designers and professional artists such as: Tadao Ando, Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec, Campana Brothers, Geatano Pesce and Tom Dixon. 

The Slave Route : Meeting of the Special Intersectoral Task Force Paris, France
05 11 2005 In the course both of the Executive Board at its 172th session and of the General Conference at its 33rd session, the UNESCO Member States voiced a desire to see the Slave Route project being followed up and extended in order to cover all the concerned regions in the world and to tackle certain aspects of the slave trade that have so far been overlooked.
Khartoum, Arab Cultural Capital 2005 Paris, France
07 11 2005 A conference entitled Meroe and Nubia: Archaeology and Civilization, a concert of Sudanese music and an exhibition of Nubian heritage in Sudan took place at UNESCO Headquarters. 
Cultural Diversity and Transversal Values: East-West Dialogue on Spiritual/Secular Dynamics Paris, France
07 - 09 11 2005 An International Symposium on “Cultural Diversity and Transversal Values: East-West Dialogue on Spiritual-Secular Dynamics” at UNESCO Headquartes brings together scholars, intellectuals and philosophers of different cultures to reflect and debate on the themes of cultural diversity and the East-West dialogue.
World Forum on Cultural Diversity Hangzhou, China
07 - 09 11 2005  This Forum looks at both the enormous potential that modern information and communication technologies and global trade offer to promote diversity and how to avoid the standardization and uniformity of cultures.
Cultural Landscapes in the Caribbean: Identification and Safeguarding Strategies Workshop Santiago, Cuba
07 - 12 11 2005  This workshop includes, amongst other activities: interactive panels, discussion sessions and a visit to the Coffee Plantation of the Southeast of Cuba which is a World Heritage Site. 
World Heritage and Tourism - Strategies and Models Salzburg, Austria
10 - 11 11 2005  This 8th Tourism Forum, held in the World Heritage Site “Historical Centre of Salzburg”, brings together experts in the fields of preservation of historical monuments, tourism and tourism planning, scholars from various disciplines as well as the World Heritage management. 
World Summit on Information Society Tunis, Tunisia
17 - 19 11 2005  The DigiArts team will participate in this World Summit with the main objective of presenting UNESCO’s different activities in the implementation of the WSIS Action Plans and giving special focus to “ICT and Capacity Building” and “Cultural Diversity for Knowledge Societies”. 
International Meetings to Promote Arts Education in the Asia-Pacific Region Seoul, Republic of Korea
21 - 25 11 2005  An upcoming symposium “Creative Partnership: Theory and Practice in the Field of Arts Education”, will provide an opportunity for dialogue on arts education between 30 renowned experts, educators and researchers from around the world. The symposium will also be open to the public. 
Third Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity Ceremony Paris, France
25 11 2005  In the presence of the members of the Jury and Permanent Delegations to UNESCO, the Director-General, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, will proclaim the Third List of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity at a special ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters. 
Twelfth Plenary Session of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) Siem Reap, Cambodia
28 11 2005  The session of the ICC for the site of Angkor will be presided over by two chairpersons: the Ambassadors of France and Japan in Phnom Penh, with UNESCO acting as secretariat. The meeting will discuss the issue of the control of protected zones of the World Heritage Site (zones 1 and 2). 
Latin American and Caribbean World Conference on Arts Education: Preparatory Regional Meeting Bogota, Colombia
28 - 30 11 2005  The main objectives of this conference are to carry out a census of national policies developed by countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. 
A Culture of dialogue in France and Turkey: which projects for today? Paris, France
30 11 2005  This symposium, jointly organized by GAIC (Islam-Christian Friendship Group) and UNESCO, would like to propose initiatives to encourage, in particular, promotion of a cultural dialogue in France and Turkey. 
New Sites
  • Arabia Plan is a Unesco programme intended to increase the knowledge of Arab culture in the world and to encourage greater mutual understanding between Arab culture and the other cultures, by promoting dialogue and exchanges. (Visit)
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