Introduction
Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is deeply connected to people’s lives and daily practices, which makes it especially vulnerable in times of crisis. Pandemics, natural disasters, and conflicts can interrupt traditions, endanger skills, and threaten the very survival of community identities. Yet, these moments of crisis also show us the resilience of communities and the importance of having strategies to protect, adapt, and renew cultural practices.
The Impact of Crises on ICH
- Pandemics (e.g., COVID-19)
- Rituals, festivals, and community gatherings are canceled, breaking the chain of face-to-face transmission.
- Artists and craftspeople lose income, reducing opportunities to practice and teach.
- Digital platforms offer solutions but are not accessible to all communities, and they cannot fully replace lived, embodied traditions.
- Natural Disasters (earthquakes, floods, wildfires)
- Loss of physical spaces like sacred sites or community centers.
- Social networks disrupted, making it harder to sustain regular practices.
- Trauma and displacement weaken community bonds needed for ICH continuity.
- Conflicts and Wars
- Cultural heritage may be deliberately targeted to erase community identity.
- Forced displacement separates families and practitioners, risking permanent loss of traditions.
- Fear and instability undermine the trust needed for intergenerational transmission.
Resilience and Recovery
Despite these challenges, communities often show remarkable creativity and resilience:
- Celebrations move online or take new, smaller, localized forms.
- Emergency support – both financial and logistical- helps sustain practitioners.
- Long-term planning, such as digital documentation, risk management strategies, and community-based safeguarding, ensures traditions can survive and recover after crises.
Crisis management for ICH is not just about survival. It is about recovery and renewal, finding ways to make living heritage stronger, more adaptable, and more visible for the future.
Case Study
Case 3: Periphery of Achaia (provided by University of West Attica)
In the Greek region of Achaia, local communities faced disruptions in cultural practices during times of crisis. The study illustrates how traditions were adapted, how practitioners received support, and how new strategies were developed for resilience. It highlights that safeguarding ICH in times of crisis requires both local creativity and institutional support, ensuring continuity and revival once stability returns.
Activities / Applications
- Case Analysis: Read about or watch resources on Achaia’s experience. Identify which crisis management measures were most effective in preserving traditions.
- Group Task: Imagine your community faces a natural disaster. Design a quick safeguarding plan for a local tradition: how would you document it, adapt it, and support practitioners?
- Simulation Exercise: Split into groups – role-play as community leaders, policymakers, and ICH practitioners. Negotiate an emergency safeguarding response.
Reflection Questions
- Think of a tradition from your own community. How would it survive if gatherings were impossible for a long time?
- Which type of crisis (pandemic, natural disaster, conflict) do you think poses the biggest threat to ICH? Why?
- Can digital tools ever replace face-to-face transmission of traditions? Why or why not?
- How can crisis preparedness become part of ICH safeguarding strategies at local, national, and EU levels?