Information is referred to as a key element in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. However, the growing flood of information makes it more difficult for us to lead an efficient data management and content development. Highly-functional data management system has therefore become a key to the effective data use and active data exchange among users.

Under these circumstances, digital platforms have sprung up in a variety of areas, including economy, society, and culture. Remarkable breakthroughs in ICT technologies brought about huge growth opportunities to global platform operators, and allowed people to gain rich experiences at home with a simple click of the mouse.

What is ichLinks?

ichLinks is a one-stop online platform where you can easily meet a wide range of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) information and content shared by and with Asia-Pacific Member States. We coined the term as a portmanteau of “ICH” and “Links”, referring to the mutual connections made among ICH and its stakeholders through the platform.

Here you are only one click away from a wide range of Asia-Pacific ICH information and content with the help of advanced digital technologies. The platform also serves as a common ground in which various ICH stakeholders, e.g. policy-makers, researchers, institutes, NGOs, communities, and practitioners can interact with one another. Where they create greater value out of pan-regional cultural resources, ichLinks shall create a virtuous cycle of a stronger cultural bond and greater peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Core Values and Objectives

Decentralization of roles and responsibilities, openness and sharing in data management, and enhancing sustainability of ICH through an effective safeguarding ecosystem are three core values that ichLinks pursues in its operation.

Decentralization Openness and sharing Sustainability

Under these principles, ichLinks shall serve as an integrated, one-stop platform that operates with active participation of and fervent exchange among participating Member States.

What are shared through the ichLinks?

ichLinks provide multiple layers of ICH information and content tailored to the needs of various groups. Among them, key resources about ICH elements, resources, stakeholders, and news & events form the primary layer, and provide the most essential data to users with regular updates.

ICH elements ICH resources ICH stakeholders ICH news & events
Images, videos, audios and texts about Asia-Pacific Member States’ ICH elements Books, articles, reports and other important materials about ICH within the region Information on policy-makers, researchers, institutes, NGOs, museums, cultural centers, communities, and practitioners Timely news and events such as exhibitions, performances, conferences, seminars, call for papers and other cultural events

These key resources can be used to create different forms of appealing content that build up the secondary layer. They may include specially curated collections and exhibitions, storytelling, GIS-based VR and AR presented through advanced ICT technologies.

Special exhibition MR(VR+AR) Digital Storytelling

How ichLinks works

ichLinks works best with ICH information agencies duly recommended by ministries of culture or other competent organizations in forty-eight Asia-Pacific Member States.

Step 1. Data Collection

Asia-Pacific ICH information and content shall be collected from a variety of information providers and treated for systematic data management.

Step 2. Data Processing

The data collected above shall be specially curated and presented in various forms of appealing ICH content, tailored to the needs of different user groups.

Step 3. Creative Content Development

The ICH information and content shall be recreated to provide an optimal audience experience and contribute to ICH safeguarding goals. They can also be integrated or merged with different fields, e.g. art, culture, and education, to produce secondary or tertiary creations.

Step 4. Building Systematic Information-Sharing Cycle

Building ichLinks as the Asia-Pacific ICH information-sharing platform shall facilitate and strengthen ICH safeguarding, creative utilization, active exchanges and cooperation among various ICH stakeholders.

The platform shall bring about social and economic opportunities to Member States and their ICH communities, and further develop a better understanding of other cultures and foster mutual respect and peace among ourselves.

How to join?

Any ICH information organizations or institutions in the ICH field are welcome to join as an ichLinks partner organization and use the platform as a digital window to promote their cultural heritage to the people around the globe. Those who wish to participate may get a recommendation from their national authorities in charge.

For more detatils, please contact the ichLinks Secretariat at minyoung@unesco-ichcap.org or ichlinks.secretariat@gmail.com.

ichLinks Partner Organizations, Since 2020

Region Country Organization
Central Asia Kazakhstan National Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the National Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan for UNESCO and ISESCO
Uzbekistan Republican Scientific-Methodical Center for Organization of Culture Institutions Activity under the Minstry of Culture
Northeast Asia Mongolia National Center for Cultural Heritage(NCCH)
Southeast Asia Malaysia Malaysia Arts & Cultural Practitioners Association(MACPA)[Persatuan Penggiat Seni dan Kebudayaan Malaysia]
Vietnam Vietnam National Institute Culture and Arts Studies(VICAS)