the estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage kristiina porila intangible cultural heritage...

The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage

Kristiina PorilaIntangible Cultural Heritage Specialist

Estonian Folk Culture Centre

The Identification and Inventorying of Intangible Cultural Heritage as a Powerful Factor of its Safeguarding

Capacity-building seminar in Minsk, Belarus, 25-26 March 2013

ESTONIA• Surface 45.000 km2

• 1.3 million inhabitants• Ethnic groups

Estonians (69.0%) Russians (25.5%) Ukrainians (2.0%) Belorussians (1.1%) Finns (0.8%)

• Official language Estonian

ESTONIA• Since 2006: State party

to the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage

• Two ICH specialists hired at the Folk Culture Centre

Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage

• online at www.rahvakultuur.ee/vkpnimistu• maintained by the Folk Culture Centre • opened in 2010• in Estonian

ICH in Estonia:Do you know how to drive on an ice road?

Structure of the inventory: 4 types of entries

1) Elements of ICH(the main entry)

2) Practitioners 3) Organisations 4) Places and regions

4 types of entries

•doing woollen handicrafts in Karula region

Related entries

• practitioners: Olivia Till

• organisations NPO Maavillane

• places and regions Vana Võromaa region

The main entry: an element of ICH

The inventory is not just a list

short texts audiovisual materials • current social and cultural

functions of the element • current activities of

practitioners and organisations

• sustainability of the element • historical background

We want to show – the essence of every element its place in peoples’ lives at present

All entries should include

• important for the community• corresponds to the defintion of ICH• living heritage• transmitted from generation to generation

The main entry: an element of ICH – criteria?

Council of experts approves before publishing (formality)

• all communities who live in Estonia

• “ordinary” or “special”• widespread or specific• the age is not relevant

The main entry: an element of ICH – criteria?

Everyone has ICH!

It does not build on existing databases– to focus on living heritage – to ensure community participation– serving the interests of local communities

A new inventory – the difficult way

Cutting a cross for a deceased relative

A traditional medicine

• an inventory based on community initiative• community representatives compile the entries

and decide– if their ICH should be on the inventory– which elements should be there – how to present them

A bottom-up approach

• The Folk Culture Centre helps and encourages• also a source of problems

• the inventory needs time to evolve• the circle of communities widens step by step• the first communities are a positive role model• the inventory is a way of activating communities

Evolving step by step

A seminar about local food

Discussions about the singing tradition

of the Seto

Mostly ICH of local communities, examples of ICH that

– is especially important for the community– has been safeguarded effectively– is in the process of revitalisation

What is on the inventory?

Making beer for the family

Eating and making

traditional food

• time consuming • officials tend to prefer

fast and clearly measurable results

• the effect is yet to be seen

Drawbacks

Thank you for listeningkristiina@rahvakultuur.ee