Introduction
Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) goes beyond preservation; it also involves interpretation and innovation to keep heritage relevant and accessible for today’s audiences. Interpretation means communicating the meanings of ICH in ways that are accurate, engaging, and respectful of the communities that practice it.
Interpretive strategies include exhibitions, guided tours, festivals, performances, and educational programs. Effective interpretation should not reduce heritage to mere spectacle. Instead, it should focus on the cultural contexts, values, and voices of tradition bearers. For example, interpretation centers dedicated to bećarac or Vučedol culture combine exhibitions with interactive workshops, allowing visitors to experience heritage as a living practice.
Community-centered models and inclusive narratives are equally important. Communities are not just passive subjects of interpretation; they actively contribute to heritage stories. The Batana Eco-Museum in Rovinj showcases this approach: fishermen, artisans, and residents curate exhibits, organize regattas, and pass on songs, ensuring that heritage presentation reflects their lived experiences. Similarly, the Kumrovec open-air museum involves local families and artisans in workshops, linking heritage education with community pride. These models show that community engagement is a moral obligation and a way to achieve authenticity.
Innovation in safeguarding
Innovation involves adapting traditional practices to new contexts and using modern tools to enhance transmission. This can include:
- Digital platforms and archives – enabling global access to oral histories, crafts, and performances.
- Mobile apps and social media – connecting young audiences to traditional songs, dances, or crafts.
- Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) – immersive experiences that allow visitors to engage with heritage practices.
- Creative reinterpretation – encouraging practitioners and artists to use traditional elements in contemporary cultural expressions.
Digital technologies create new opportunities for promoting ICH. Mobile apps, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) can make heritage accessible beyond geographical limits. In Croatia, digital archives and repositories help communities document and share practices widely. The bećarac mobile app, for example, not only preserves songs but also offers interactive learning through quizzes and user-generated content. Such tools attract younger generations and encourage intergenerational transmission in new ways.
Interpretation of ICH
Interpretation refers to how heritage is presented and explained to different audiences. It should be accurate, respectful, and community-driven. Effective interpretation balances academic rigor, cultural sensitivity, and public accessibility.
Examples of interpretation tools:
- Museums and eco-museums presenting ICH as part of living culture, not just as relics.
- Storytelling circles and performances organized by practitioners.
- Digital exhibitions co-created by communities.
Community engagement
Communities are not just “sources” of heritage – they are its primary custodians. Their involvement is essential in all stages: identification, documentation, interpretation, and transmission. Engagement ensures:
- Authenticity – practices reflect real community meanings.
- Empowerment – heritage becomes a resource for local identity and pride.
- Sustainability – practices survive when communities find value in them.
In conclusion, innovation and interpretation should always aim to foster community engagement. By blending traditional storytelling with digital tools and centering communities in narrative creation, we can both safeguard heritage and share it dynamically. These strategies ensure that ICH continues to inspire local pride while promoting understanding on a global scale.
Case studies
- Batana Eco-Museum (Rovinj, Croatia) – a pioneering example of community-led safeguarding. Local fishermen and residents curate exhibitions, organize regattas, and integrate traditions into cultural life. UNESCO has recognized it as a model of participatory heritage management.
- Bećarac Museum (Croatia) – combines traditional oral performance with interactive technologies, enabling visitors to record their own verses while learning about the cultural context.
- Other examples – participatory digital exhibitions, community mapping of heritage practices, and festivals co-created with local practitioners.
Application
Task: Review UNESCO’s Good Safeguarding Practices database. Select one example that integrates innovation and community engagement. Present:
- The ICH element safeguarded.
- The innovative method used (digital, participatory, creative).
- The role of the community in the process.
- The outcomes for both heritage and community.
Reflection questions
- How can digital innovation support (rather than replace) living traditions?
- What risks exist when heritage is transformed into a “spectacle” for tourism?
- Why must communities lead in interpretation, rather than external experts alone?
- How can innovation and authenticity be balanced in heritage safeguarding?
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