Introduction
Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is not just about preserving rituals, skills, and traditions—it also depends on mobilizing the right knowledge, information, and funding to ensure their continuity. Research resources form the backbone of any safeguarding strategy. Without accurate data, accessible inventories, and practical educational materials, heritage practitioners and communities lack the tools to protect and transmit their living traditions.
The 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is the cornerstone for these efforts. It defines the categories of ICH—oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge of nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship—and emphasizes the role of communities in identifying and maintaining them. Importantly, the Convention requires States Parties to develop inventories and adopt safeguarding measures.
UNESCO Resources and Tools
To support these obligations, UNESCO’s Secretariat for the Convention has developed a variety of online education and knowledge management tools, freely available to communities, researchers, and policymakers. These include:
- Digital visualizations that help immerse learners in the world of ICH and show its links with natural environments and risk factors.
- Open-access training materials (62 modules) covering themes such as policy development, inventorying, and applying for assistance.
- The Sustainable Development Toolkit, with over 30 case studies showing how ICH contributes to economic, environmental, and social sustainability.
- Specialized materials, such as a video animation on Gender and ICH with presenter notes for trainers.
- An interactive bibliography with over 1,000 references connected to the Convention, offering a starting point for academic and applied research.
- The Global Electronic Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage, available here: UNESCO ICH Grid.
- Register of Good Practices in Bulgaria: Bulgarian ICH Register, highlighting successful safeguarding models at the national level.
Key Takeaway
These resources are not just academic tools—they are practical guides that can be used by students, NGOs, local communities, and cultural institutions to build effective safeguarding projects. They show that ICH research is deeply connected to sustainability, gender equality, participation, and innovation.
📌 Reflection Question:
Which of the UNESCO tools (training materials, case studies, registers) do you think would be most useful for your own local context? Why?