Intangible Cultural Heritage in the UK: promoting and safeguarding our diverse living cultures

Saturday 20 September 2014

09.30 – 16.30

The Museum of London Docklands, No. 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL

Storytelling, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and traditional crafts knowledge and skills are a key part of the UK’s traditions and cultural heritage.  They have also provided us with a means of living and a way of life, while informing us of our history and shaping our identities.

These intangible cultural practices are not static, like buildings and artefacts – instead they continue to evolve as they are passed down from one generation to the next.  This brings with it a risk that some may not survive, raising questions of what we value in our intangible cultural heritage, and whether and how we should take steps to document and safeguard it.

ICOMOS-UK presents the first ever conference to focus exclusively on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in the UK, combining theoretical contexts with practical examples.  The primary aim of the conference is to raise awareness about the different types of ICH, both rural and urban, as practiced by the UK’s culturally diverse groups of people.

The conference will also explore some of the key issues and challenges relating to the safeguarding and transmission of traditions or living cultural expressions to future generations.

This conference has been organized by the ICOMOS-UK Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee in partnership with the Museum of London Docklands , and is supported by the Royal Anthropological Institute.

For full details please see the flyer here.  If you have any questions please contact admin@icomos-uk.org.