ICHCAP

The 2023 Committee Bureau Meeting of the Silk Roads Living Heritage Network (SRLHN) was held in Shymkent, Kazakhstan on October 23-24, 2023.

The meeting was co-organised by the International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (ICHCAP), the National Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan for UNESCO and ICESCO, the Department of Tourism, External Relations, and Creative Industry of the City of Shymkent, Kazakhstan, and in close cooperation with the International Institute for Central Asia Studies (IICAS).

The meeting was attended by coordinating bureau members from seven countries, namely Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives from the National Committee for the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Ms. Khanzada Yessenova, the Head of the Department of Tourism, External Relations, and Creative Industry of the City of Shymkent, Kazakhstan, and Mr. Rustam Muzafarov, the Vice Chairman of the National Committee for the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Kazakhstan, delivered the opening remarks to the participants. They emphasized the significance of enhancing collaboration and connections among institutions associated with intangible cultural heritage to promote it effectively. Additionally, the importance of continuous management of the post-nomination of Intangible Cultural Heritage was stressed.

The meeting encompassed seven agendas, which consisted of adopting amendments to the SRLHN Statutes and Rules or CB meetings, presenting reports on annual activities, discussing considerations for 2024 activities, and deliberating on the mid-long-term strategy for the operation of the Network. Coordinating Bureau members have also approved three additional ICH festivals in Kazakhstan: Mangistau, with origins in the Turks, the Spirit of Tengri, and World of Nomads.

All suggestions regarding the mid-to-long-term strategy, activities for 2024, and the venue for the next Coordinating Bureau meeting have been taken into consideration, and they will be further discussed and developed in collaboration with all CB members during the first quarter of 2024.