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

15
The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible 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

Upload: johnathan-garrett

Post on 11-Jan-2016

219 views

Category:

Documents


3 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

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

Page 2: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

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

Page 3: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

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

Page 4: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

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?

Page 5: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

Structure of the inventory: 4 types of entries

1) Elements of ICH(the main entry)

2) Practitioners 3) Organisations 4) Places and regions

Page 6: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

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

Page 7: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

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

Page 8: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

• 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)

Page 9: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

• 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!

Page 10: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

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

Page 11: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

• 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

Page 12: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

• 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

Page 13: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

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

Page 14: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

• time consuming • officials tend to prefer

fast and clearly measurable results

• the effect is yet to be seen

Drawbacks

Page 15: The Estonian inventory of intangible cultural heritage Kristiina Porila Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist Estonian Folk Culture Centre The Identification

Thank you for [email protected]