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07 September 2020 Bahrain Culture Authority’s Open Call Registration for The 2nd National Intangible Cultural Heritage Forum
Bahrain Culture Authority’s Open Call Registration for The 2nd National Intangible Cultural Heritage Forum

 

The Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities is preparing to launch the 2nd Edition of the National Forum for Intangible Cultural Heritage, scheduled to be held this year amid exceptional precautionary and procedures to face the spread and outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. These two meetings will be broadcasted live on ZOOM platform channels, on 22 & 23 September 2020, as well as two TV programs on BTV and BACA’s channel on You Tube. Those wishing to participate in this forum are invited to register via Bahrain Culture Authority’s website on www.culture.gov.bh
  
The two-day event is part of BACA’s visionary strategies and plans to enrich the scientific research movement, nationally and regionally and interact with the large audience in the Kingdom of Bahrain with regard to cultural heritage in general. The initiative is aimed also at the promotion of Bahraini Intangible Cultural Heritage elements, in view of nomination to UNESCO Representative List. This year’s edition deals with a new set of elements of Bahrain's Intangible Cultural Heritage, namely, the Ardha, Arabic Calligraphy, Traditional Bahraini Garments and Naseej. In addition, the forum will shed lights on many topics, such as the safeguard and protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage, ways and means of enriching scientific research and enhancing interactive strategy with the public regarding cultural heritage in general. 

The 2nd National Forum’s most highlighted intended objectives are raising the public awareness about the importance of the elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage, their current status, determine, nominate, safeguard and preserve these elements of intangible cultural heritage, ensuring Bahrain’s commitment to implement UNESCO 2003 Convention. The forum will also give researchers and experts the opportunity to take part in the concerted efforts to safeguard the Intangible Cultural Heritage according to international standards and mechanisms.    

The 2003 UNESCO “Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage”, means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. It is made up of all immaterial manifestations of culture, represents the variety of living heritage of humanity as well as the most important vehicle of cultural diversity, is a tool for sustainable development and firmly grounded in a human-rights based approach, was aimed at promoting cultural diversity and protecting traditional practices, belief systems, knowledge & skills of communities, amidst the formation of homogenous global societies. This 2003 convention became an equivalent counterpart of the World Heritage Convention, which identifies global representative lists, lists which highlight the need for urgent safeguarding, creates international cooperation, and provides assistance mechanisms to State Parties that need such support. Each State Party is required to take the necessary measures to ensure the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage present in its territory and to include communities, groups and relevant NGOs in the identification and definition of elements of that intangible cultural heritage.