ICHCAP

UNESCO-ICHCAP, with cooperation with the International Institute for Central Asian Studies (IICAS) and Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum Secretariat, co-host the launching events of the Silk Roads Living Heritage Network on October 28 and 29, at DDP, Seoul, and online during Korea Foundation’s ‘Public Diplomacy Week.’

The network aims to re-examine Silk Roads that connect East and West, focusing on information openness and the realization of multilateral values to help strengthen the role of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and network activities in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development across the Silk Roads.

The network launches with thirty-eight ICH festival institutions from nine countries (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Korea, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan), recommended by the result of the silk roads ICH survey project on traditional festivals. It will also be joined by nine representative experts nominated with cooperation with UNESCO National Commissions of each country.

On October 28, the diplomatic mission of the member countries will participate in gracing the opening ceremony of the network at the site. Following, under the theme of promoting a culture of peace and facilitating sustainable development along the Silk Roads, Living Heritage Forum will be held to report case studies with the representative experts from nine-member countries.

The next day is for Coordinating Bureau Meeting discussing the operation of the network in detail: election of the chairman, decision of the statute, and cooperation projects for 2022, etc. As the closed session, ICHCAP, IICAS, and representatives nominated by the UNESCO National Commission of nine-member countries and UNESCO regional offices and network cooperative institutions as observers will participate.

As a side event, the online photo exhibition is prepared from October 28 to December 7. It is expected that this will enhance the accessibility to ICH to the general public.

The launching ceremony will be live-streamed via ICHCAP’s YouTube channel in Korea, English, and Russian.

More information will be updated on ICHCAP’s webpage.