ICHCAP

The four participants of ICHCAP’s invitation program successfully completed their sojourn in Korea. The program, as a part of the Cultural Partnership Initiative (CPI), was aimed to build an ICH information network in the Asia-Pacific region. On 14 November 2018, ICHCAP held the 2018 CPI Research Presentation and Completion Ceremony at the Training Center seminar hall of the National Intangible Heritage Center, which was attended by Director-General Kwon Huh and other members of ICHCAP.

The participants selected their research subjects at the start of the program in July through discussion and review, which included the ICH safeguarding systems and cases for specific ICH elements in their countries and the relationships between ICH and sustainable development. Over the next five months, they conducted their research, which involved visits to ICH institutions and interviews with experts in Korea.

The participants, from Myanmar, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan and Philippines, are experts working in the field of ICH and culture at cultural departments, specialized institutions, and NGOs in their countries. As the result of their research, the participants submitted the following reports.

Thu Thu Aung (Myanmar)

Traditional Weaving: ICH Safeguarding Systems of Myanmar (Achike Weaving) and Korea (Hansan Mosi Weaving)

Ratchada Sukka (Thailand)

ICH Inventorying of Korea and Thailand

Chynara Bosunbaeva (Kyrgyzstan)

The Roles of the Government for Enhancing Community Participation in ICH Safeguarding in Korea and Kyrgyzstan

Royce Lyssah Malabonga (Philippines)

ICH Safeguarding, Sustainable Development and Ecologism: Experiences of Korea (Jeju Haenyeo) and the Philippines (Tagolwanen Weaving)

The participants were also given a special opportunity to build field capacity for ICH safeguarding by attending various international events and projects organized by ICHCAP in the Asia-Pacific region. By writing articles for ICHCAP’s e-Newsletter, the participants delivered information about ICH safeguarding activities of their countries and collected local ICH information, contributing to greater visibility of ICH.

As ICH researchers and experts, the participants will serve as focal points in building an Asia-Pacific network for ICHCAP projects. As ICHCAP correspondents, they will also continue to share information about ICH safeguarding activities in the Asia-Pacific region, and act as a bridge to help ICHCAP conduct reciprocal projects with the countries. The CPI program was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The participants’ reports will be published on ICHCAP’s website.