The environment surrounding intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is changing rapidly in the face of waves of rapid urbanization and globalization. In the face of such changes, documenting actual scenes of ICH in video form presents one of the most effective ways of identifying trends in ongoing developments and raising the profile of ICH. However, achieving this requires robust support and coordinated efforts due to the relative inadequacy of the conditions for producing such documentary material in the Asia-Pacific region.
The International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (ICHCAP) shines a light on the ICH of Asia-Pacific and introduces its value to the public through video projects depicting ICH. ICHCAP conducts joint projects with member states to portray real-life scenes of ICH alongside experts, communities, NGOs, and other stakeholders in various countries. As a result, it has produced fifty videos on the ICH of Central Asia through the phase-one joint project on Central Asia and an additional fifty videos through the phase-two video project on the ICH of Southeast Asia. These videos are being screened through broadcasting companies and at film festivals in each country, in addition to distribution via YouTube and other channels.
Videos represent the most accurate method of capturing ICH as it exists in the real world, as well as being effective tools for communicating with the public. ICHCAP will endeavor to continue vividly documenting the scenes of ICH that are hidden across the Asia-Pacific region with the aim of raising the profile of ICH elements as treasures of humanity and introducing them to the public.
Main Activities
- Developing and Distributing Project Guidelines
- Organizing Expert Workshop by Sub-regions
- Organizing Expert Committee by Member States
- Organizing Video Production Team by Member States
- Producing ICH Videos
- Distributing and Promoting ICH Videos
Target: 25 Member States in the Asia-Pacific
- 1st Phase: 5 Member States in Central Asia (2015-2016)
- 2nd Phase: 8 Member States in Southeast Asia (2017-2020)
- 3rd Phase: 5 Member States in South Asia (2021-2023)
- 4th Phase: 5 Member States in the Pacific (2024-2025)
Partner Organizations
| Phase | Sub-region | State | Partner Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Central Asia | Uzbekistan | National Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for UNESCO |
| Kyrgyzstan | National Commission of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan for UNESCO | ||
| Tajikistan | National Commission of the Republic of Tajikistan for UNESCO, and Tajik Film | ||
| Kazakhstan | National Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan for UNESCO and ISESCO | ||
| Mongolia | Foundation for Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage (FPNCH) | ||
| 2nd | Southeast Asia | Vietnam | Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies (VICAS) |
| Philippines | National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) | ||
| Malaysia | Real Touch Sdn Bhd | ||
| Indonesia | STUPPA Indonesia | ||
| Lao PDR | Ministry of Information Culture and Tourism | ||
| Cambodia | Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts | ||
| Myanmar | Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture | ||
| Thailand | Thammasat University | ||
| 3rd | South Asia | Bhutan | Loden Foundation |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka National Library and Documentation Services Board |
- Partner Organizations in Korea: Educational Broadcasting System(EBS) and Asia Culture Center(ACC), Gugak Broadcasting Foundation
Outcomes
- 10 ICH Documentary Videos by Each state (26 min duration per each video)
Achievements
- 1st Phase: Central Asia (Total of 50 Videos)
- 2nd Phase: Southeast Asia (Total of 80 Videos)
