ICHCAP

The international symposium entitled ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Cities and Communities: Perspectives for Integrated Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region’ was held in Kyoto, Japan on 11th October 2024. Organized by the International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (IRCI), the symposium aimed to discuss the importance of ICH in the context of SDG 11.4 in the Asia-Pacific region to deepen understanding of the interactions between tangible and intangible heritage, promote the holistic safeguarding of cultural heritage, and share research outcomes from the project ‘Research on ICH Contributing to SDGs: Intangible Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Cities and Communities’. 

The symposium featured two keynote speeches. Ananya Bhattacharya from Contact Base, India, explored the significance of holistic approaches to living heritage to living heritage and World Heritage sites, while Shimizu Shigeatsu from the Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan, discussed issues on evaluating and preserving the Uji-cha tea cultural landscape. 

Additionally, researchers from cooperating institutions involved in the project shared findings from case studies conducted in their respective countries. The APSARA National Authority in Cambodia examined the role of traditional handicrafts in contributing to sustainable communities at Krabei Riel. Waan Aelõñ in Majel, in collaboration with Pasifika Renaissance, studied the use of traditional canoes in the Marshall Islands as a model for sustainable sea transportation today. George Town World Heritage Incorporated in Malaysia explored the intertwining of built heritage protection with ICH safeguarding through the George Town Heritage Celebrations. Furthermore, the Taalim-Forum Public Foundation in Kyrgyzstan presented local community strategies for safeguarding cultural landscapes, offering insights into community-driven approaches to heritage preservation.

The symposium provided a platform for researchers and experts to engage in meaningful discussions and further develop measures and strategies for holistic heritage management, integrating both tangible and intangible heritage.