"The Safeguarding of Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage:
Towards an Integrated Approach"
Nara, Japan, 20 October 2004
The 1994 Nara conference highlighted the immaterial aspects or "associative values" that may supplement the evaluation and conservation of tangible heritage. For all these reasons, the 1994 Conference represented a major step towards widening our vision of cultural heritage.
Cultural heritage, in fact, is an open notion evoking the universal nature of human creativity. It encompasses not only magnificent temples but also living culture and its numerous forms of expression. In 2002, the United Nations International Year of Cultural Heritage provided UNESCO with the opportunity to develop this broad and integrated holistic vision of cultural heritage.
We have come to realize that there are many cases where elements of the tangible and intangible heritage are deeply interdependent, which may require the design of common approaches when it comes to safeguarding. It is widely recognized that certain domains of the intangible cultural heritage can be of importance for the protection of tangible heritage. One may, in this respect, think of traditional knowledge about the natural environment, or about the knowledge and skills related to traditional handicrafts. The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage also uses the term "cultural space" in its definition. The continued existence of such spaces is a condition for the safeguarding of elements of the intangible heritage; and they, therefore, need to be protected.
On the other hand, it is evident that there are innumerable examples of intangible cultural heritage that do not depend for their existence or expression on specific places, monuments or objects. In addition, it has been recognized that the associative values of many sites or monuments belong to the past and not to the living heritage of present-day communities. This distinction between intangible heritage aspects that belong to the past and those aspects that form part and parcel of the traditions and practices of living communities, has acquired a new significance given the fact that the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage is exclusively aimed at protecting and promoting living heritage.
Clearly, the cultural heritage of communities and nations always has both tangible and intangible components, although the relative proportions of the two categories may differ considerably. As a rule, due to their different nature, different safeguarding activities are required for tangible and intangible components of the cultural heritage. However, it is necessary also to pay attention to the totality of cultural heritage of nations and communities so that protection measures are not only adapted to each component but also mutually supportive where possible.
UNESCO considers it crucial that a new, inclusive and, where appropriate, unified vision of heritage be reflected in its programmes and projects. A possible integrated approach, which respects the diversity of cultures and which acknowledges the interdependencies of tangible and intangible heritages as well as their autonomy, will have to be studied and translated into concrete measures of implementation.
