1. Signing Tripartite MOU for Safeguarding Silkroad ICH Signed between ICHCAP, Uzbekistan Ministry of Culture and the State Committee for Tourism Development
On August 27, ICHCAP signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the State Committee for Tourism Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the safeguarding and promotion of intangible heritage along the Silk Roads.The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. KEUM, Gi Hyung, ICHCAP Director-General; Hon. Bakhtiyor Sayfullayev, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan; and Mr. Abdulaziz Akkulov, Acting Chairman of the State Committee for Tourism Development, who utilized the occasion to share common visions and goals.
This agreement came to fruition through the concerted efforts of the three organizations under the aim of safeguarding and promoting precious intangible heritage of Central Asia, including Uzbekistan located in the heartland of the Silk Road, against the rapid extinction of numerous intangible heritage due to the impact of globalization and urbanization today. Specifically, the agreement is a follow-up measure to the MOU for cooperation on cultural heritage that was concluded between the Uzbekistan Ministry of Culture and the Cultural Heritage Administration of South Korea during President Moon Jae-in’s state visit to Uzbekistan in April, 2019. This represents a meaningful step forward in implementing the agreement concluded between the two countries to safeguard cultural heritage.
Key details of the agreement include: Collection and distribution of rich Silkroad ICH information and resources, including festivals, crafts and performing arts; building Silk Road ICH network; hosting international symposiums and workshops; building on-and-offline platform to share Silkroad ICH information and resources; and enhancing mutual cooperation for personnel exchanges.
2. A high-level working meeting between ICHCAP and the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum Secretariat
A high-level working meeting between ICHCAP and the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum Secretariat (KCACFS)was held on 13 November in the meeting room of KF in Seoul. Gi-Hyung Keum, the Director-General of ICHCAP, and Seong-Yong Park, The Assistant Director-General of ICHCAP, met with Seong-In Kim, the Secretary-General of KCACFS, and Sang-Bae Park, the Deputy Secretary-General of KCACFS, to discuss collaborative work for safeguarding ICH in Central Asia. In the meeting, the two parties agreed to collaborate with each other to promote Central Asian ICH, including the establishment of a Silk Roads ICH network along with the cooperative promotion of Central Asian Culture inside Korea over the long-term. For reference, last October, the two institutes signed an MOU for safeguarding ICH and promoting Central Asian Culture, including the Promotion of Silk Roads ICH for the future.
3. Visitng the International Folk Dance and Music Festival “BOSPHORUS” and signing MOU with the European Association of Folklore Festivals
On October 23rd, 2022, the Coordinating Bureau Members of SRLHN visited the International Folk Dance and Music Festival “BOSPHORUS”, organized by Mr. Aleksandar Mojsoski, which was held on the territory of Avcilar Municipality, Istanbul, Turkey.
During the event which was attended by 14 groups from 8 countries, participants met the Mayor of Avcilar Municipality, Istanbul – Mr Turan Hançerli.
The Silk Roads Living Heritage Network Coordinating Bureau Meeting was held parallel to the festival. The meeting was hosted by the Traditional Arts Association – ICH partner of UNESCO. At the meeting, a “Memorandum of Understanding” – MOU was signed between the President of the European Association of Folklore Festivals (EAFF) Mr. Kaloyan Nikolov and Mr. Ji-Sung Kim, Director-General of The International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (ICHCAP), with an emphasis on the development of the network of festivals part of the “Silk Road”, joint activities for the protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in the context of the Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.
4. Signing MOU between UNESCO-ICHCAP and UNESCO-ICDH on the cooperation on the Living Heritage along the Silk Roads
The International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (ICHCAP) and The UNESCO International Centre for Documentary Heritage (ICDH) signed MOU on the cooperation in the Living Heritage along the Silk Roads.
Two parties discussed the ways of supporting international capacity building for effective preservation and universal access to the documentary heritage of humankind. They agreed to further elaborate on the ways of cooperating through research activities and information sharing on Silk Roads ICH-related documentary heritage, as well as sharing good practices in identifying Silk Roads documentary heritage for the possible inscription at the regional and international level, and elaboration of the transboundary serial nomination to the UNESCO MoW international register.
5. Work-level Advisory Meeting on the Silk Roads Living Heritage Safeguarding Strategies
On December 21, 2022, ICHCAP and the Institute for Eurasian Turkic Studies at Dongduk Women’s University held a domestic work-level advisory meeting on strategies for safeguarding living heritage along the Silk Roads. The main objective of the advisory meeting was to exchange ideas on the future strategic direction of the Silk Roads Living Heritage Network (SRLHN) and build a network of domestic experts. The meeting was moderated by professor Eunkyung Oh (Director of the Institute for Eurasian Turkic Studies), who raised the important issue of the existence of many segregated research projects and activities related to the Silk Roads, and at the same time, the lack of the information sharing between those institutions in charge.
The exchange of knowledge between different stakeholders that are interested in a similar issue is a great tool for developing future strategies and achieving the synergy effect. Arranging this meeting itself had the meaning of the factual strategy to enhance the network of domestic Silk Road researchers, experts, and related stakeholders. All participants expressed their willingness and hope for continued discussion development and further cooperation on safeguarding the living heritage along the Silk Roads.
6. Signing a Multi-Party MOU on Eurasia Cooperation Network
On 13 December 2022, ICHCAP signed an MOU on Eurasia Cooperation Network that was established by the Busan Foundation for International Cooperation (BFIC). MOU was signed by 14 parties, the representatives of institutions, organisations, and companies that are involved in different activities along the Eurasian region. The Eurasia Cooperation Network establishes an organic collaboration system based on mutual trust between institutions and seeks to activate international exchanges in the region through the discovery, development, and practice of Eurasia exchange and cooperation projects in various fields. Furthermore, it is aimed to contribute to common prosperity and peace in Eurasia by promoting mutual understanding and friendship between countries and regions. To note, BFIC has recently become an official partner of the Silk Roads Living Heritage Network, a project carried out by the ICHCAP. As a centre with the main functions of information sharing and networking, ICHCAP is committed to enhancing communication with domestic institutions to increase cooperation opportunities
