Online Stage

The “ONLINE STAGE” platform on the EAFF's website provides an easy way to promote folklore music and dance video performances, which in just a few steps will be visible on the website of the European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF. The aim of the initiative is to present records of high artistic value to keep alive the traditions of the nations. The unique virtual stage will provide you a stage to present yourself, despite the current global situation, delighting fans of folklore art. You can send your video to the "online stage" with just one click. The "ONLINE STAGE" section is part of the eponymous new section of the EAFF's website, which also provides access to the overview-documentary festival films, to the editions of the TV show "World Folklore Art" and to the monthly TV shows of the TV Championship by EurofolkTV . The new section also takes you to the opportunity to become viewers and listeners of EAFF's main media partners - Eurofolk's online television and online radio. Enjoy the emotions with which the Live Steam archives from the large festival forums are loaded and immerse yourself in the widest existing collection of folklore videos, both in quantity and quality, stored on the platform of our site "VIDEO ON DEMAND". You will be informed about the most interesting news from the world of folklore, thanks to the sections "News" and "Magazine". https://eaff.eu/en/media/online-stage

Kaustinen Folk Music Festival finds the ways to do it online

Thousands of cultural and heritage events throughout the world have been cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic. Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, the major Finnish folk music and dance event and one of the majors in Northern Europe, also had to tell this sad message to its dedicated friends. In order to support practising and sharing living heritage under current conditions and to keep up the festival community, consisting of 4000–5000 professional and amateur performers and 40000–50000 visitors annually, a virtual online festival was quickly created. The core of the VirtualKaustinen 2020 online event, 13.–19.7.2020, is the general invitation to all willing groups and individuals to record video performances, upload them to Youtube and share the link to the festival organization. Several hundred videos are expected, and the festival publishes daily a selection of dozens of links. The programme also consists of daily streamed concerts and workshops, interviews and a webcast radio by The Finnish Folk Music Institute offering archival concerts from earlier festivals and a playlist of Finnish folk music classics. In MyKaustinen Facebook group festivalgoers can join weekly virtual jam sessions and singalongs and share their festival memories starting all the way from the establishing year 1968. VirtualKaustinen is free of charge and registration. All the materials stay online until the end of July 2020. Find more information: https://www.kaustinen2020.net

Volunteers for ad hoc sub-committee for the ICH NGO Forum report at 15.COM

Volunteers for ad hoc sub-committee for the ICH NGO Forum report at 15. COM (See below for the french version) Dear colleagues, we hope that this email finds you well and safe from the spread of Covid-19. As you know, at 14. COM the Intergovernmental Committee decided to include our report as a separate agenda item at its next session. It will be first such report in the history of the Forum, and it requires our due attention. Several members of the Steering Committee had an online meeting with UNESCO Secretariat, where we discussed formal requirement for the report. It is expected to be no longer than 5 pages; it may use as a model the reports of ad hoc working groups; the greatest attention should be given to the draft decision as the binding part of the agenda item, while overall contents of the report is up to the Forum to decide. The deadline for completing the English version of the report is the end of September. The Secretariat will translate it into French, and both versions needs to be available at the UNESCO website by 2 November (i.e., a month in advance to 15. COM). Further on, the Steering Committee discussed the contents of the report, and have identified the following parts as the most important: (i) report on the Forum’s activities prior and during 14. COM and on activities prepared for 15.COM, and their contextualization in relation to the role of NGOs in safeguarding ICH in general; (ii) Forum’s views and suggestions pertaining to three important ongoing topics in the work of the Intergovernmental Committee, namely (a) the reform of the listing mechanism, (b) the role of NGOs and possible reform of the accreditation system, and (c) ICH in emergencies; (iii) resilience of communities and their ICH against Coronavirus epidemic (this last topic representing a special, currently burning example of ICH in emergencies in general terms). In order to secure the broadest possible participation of ICH NGOs in the preparation of the report, we have decided to launch an invitation to all accredited NGOs to join ad hoc working subcommittee that will be directly and actively involved in the needed analyses to be conducted and the drafting of the report. It is expected that the work of the subcommittee will be organized into several groups that will be in charge of the above-mentioned parts of the report; members of each group will communicate regularly through email correspondence and online Skype meetings. Those of you who would like to join in, please contact Naila Ceribasic (ichngoforum@gmail.com), a secretary of the Steering Committee who will coordinate the work of the subcommittee, no later than 15 June 2020. With best wishes, Steering Committee of the ICH NGO Forum Volontaires pour le sous-comité ad hoc pour le Rapport du Forum des ONG du PCI à 15. COM Chers collègues, Nous espérons que ce courriel vous trouve bien et à l’abri de la propagation de Covid-19. Comme vous le savez, à 14. COM, le Comité intergouvernemental a décidé d’inscrire un point séparé de l’ordre du jour sur le Rapport du Forum des ONG pour sa prochaine session (15.COM). Il s’agira du premier rapport de ce type dans l’histoire du Forum et il va requérir notre plus grande attention. Plusieurs membres du Comité directeur ont tenu une réunion en ligne avec le Secrétariat de l’UNESCO, au cours de laquelle nous avons discuté des exigences formelles du Rapport. Il ne devrait pas dépasser 5 pages; il pourrait s’inspirer des rapports des groupes de travail ad hoc; la plus grande attention devrait être accordée au projet de décision en tant que partie contraignante du point de l’ordre du jour, tandis que le contenu général du Rapport se met à la discrétion du Forum. La date limite pour rédiger le Rapport en anglais est fin septembre. Le Secrétariat le fera traduira en français, et les deux versions doivent être disponibles sur le site Web de l’UNESCO au plus tard le 2 novembre (c’est-à-dire un mois à l’avance pour 15. COM). Par la suite, le Comité directeur a examiné le contenu du Rapport et a identifié les parties suivantes comme les plus importantes: (i) rapport sur les activités du Forum avant et pendant 14. COM et sur les activités prévues pour 15.COM, et leur contextualisation en ce qui concerne le rôle des ONG dans la sauvegarde du PCI en général; (ii) Points de vue et suggestions du Forum concernant trois sujets importants en cours d’examen dans les travaux du Comité intergouvernemental, à savoir (a) la réforme des mécanismes d’inscription sur les Listes de la Convention, (b) le rôle des ONG et la réforme éventuelle du système d’accréditation, et (c) PCI dans les situations d’urgence; (iii) la résilience des communautés et de leur PCI contre l’épidémie de coronavirus (ce dernier sujet représente un exemple particulier, actuellement brûlant du PCI dans les situations d’urgence en termes généraux). Afin d’assurer la participation le plus large possible des ONG du PCI à la préparation du Rapport, nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter cordialement à toutes les ONG accréditées à se joindre au sous-comité de travail ad hoc qui sera directement et activement impliqué dans les analyses nécessaires à mener et la rédaction du Rapport. Il est prévu que les travaux du sous-comité soient organisés en plusieurs groupes qui seront chargés des parties susmentionnées du Rapport ; les membres de chaque groupe communiqueront régulièrement par courriel et par des réunions Skype en ligne. Si vous voulez s’y joindre, veuillez contacter Naila Ceribasic, secrétaire du Comité directeur qui coordonnera les travaux du sous-comité, par courriel à l’adresse ichngoforum@gmail.com au plus tard le 15 juin 2020. Avec nos meilleurs vœux, Comité directeur du Forum des ONG du PCI

Workshop on ICH management in Pernik, Bulgaria

The Regional Centre Sofia organizes two-days workshops on 'ICH management' in different cities in Bulgaria in the frames of the project named “Safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage through enhancing civil society’s participation on the process of formulating, implementing and monitoring of policies and legislation”. After the first workshop in Ruse and the following in Koprivshtitsa, Burgas and Vratsa, the last planned workshop will be held in the city of Pernik on March 5-6, 2020. More information: available in Bulgarian * Link: http://www.unesco-centerbg.org

Nordic-Baltic ICH Network established, Kaustinen ICH seminar 2019 video available online

The Nordic and Baltic network on Intangible Cultural Heritage was established 13.7.2019 at the Kaustinen Intangible Cultural Heritage Seminar 2019. The organization of the network will be discussed in a satellite meeting associated with the first Nordic ICH conference Living heritage in the Nordic countries. International seminar on the UNESCO 2003 Convention, 31.10–1.11.2019 in Hanaholmen Cultural Centre, Espoo, Finland. See more information on the network and watch the Kaustinen seminar video(http://www.kansanmusiikki-instituutti.fi/toiminta/nordic-baltic-ich-network/).

Beer Culture in Belgium

Belgium and beer is synonymous as the culture holds high demand for it. Until the 1960s children eating lunch at school had the choice of beer (called table beer low in alcohol) as their drink. Consumption and demand for beer is a tradition and the range of different kinds of beer in Belgium is constantly growing. Although statistically Belgium has fewer breweries than that of some states in the US, Belgium has more diversity when it comes to beer styles and their brewing processes. There are some 1500 types of beer, all using different fermentation methods. Many local Belgian beers are brewed in micro-breweries. These beers having their own brands reach many locals who consume the beer with any kind of social gatherings or events. Master brewers will often teach courses in universities and other venues in order to help transmit their skills to aspiring brewers and amateurs alike. Beer culture in Belgium was inscribed in 2016 to the representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. References: ICH UNESCO, Wikipedia

DANCE AWARD SEASON 2020: Where you are the protagonist!

The Dance Grand Prix present the International Competitions and invite your dance school/group to compete and performing at the most prestigious "Art Cities Theatres" in Europe. "Barcelona Dance Award" in Spain from 9 to 13 April 2020 during Easter Spring Time. and "Dance Grand Prix Venice-Florence" in Italy from 22 to 26 June 2020 during Summer Time. To find out how to qualify, mail the office, so Directors should act right away for next Year! Unfortunately, in this year, space has been limited and many groups have failed to register, and we hope do not have this kind of problems, for your dance group, next 2020 editions! If you need, just in a few days you will receive (free on charges for you!) some advertising materials from us,the brochures and posters of the Dance Grand Prix 2020 Season, reply to this e.mail for request of info. our info email: <a href="eurodancebarcelona@gmail.com ">eurodancebarcelona@gmail.com </a> Full Name: ___________________________________________ School/Company Name: ________________________________ Email Address: ________________________________________* REQUIRED FIELD Shipping Address: _____________________________________ City: ____________________ State/Province: _____________ Country: ________________________ZIP/Postal: __________ Our web site: <a href="http://www.barcelonadance.org/ ">http://www.barcelonadance.org/ </a>

Rebetiko: Urban Greek music

Rebetiko or can be described as the urban popular song of the Greeks, originating some time from the late 19th century to the 1950s. Rebetiko is associated with the Urban lower and working class population of Greece whom created songs and sounds from their daily life. Often the lyrics were describing the lower standards that the impoverished faced along with their struggles that the mainstream population were able to make connections. The earliest origins of Rebetiko is from mainly coastal cities in today’s Asia Minor with large Greek communities during the Ottoman era. Rebetiko emphasizes the importance of living musical tradition with a strong symbolic, ideological and artistic character. The Transmission occurs orally through live performances. Bouzouki is the one of the main instruments of Rebetiko, which looks a lot like the guitar but has three strings. Rebetiko is closely related to the nightlife entertainment of Greek taverns and Hookah shops. In 2017 Rebetiko was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. You can watch "Rebetiko" on youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHewYT_hfXg&feature=youtu.be"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHewYT_hfXg&feature=youtu.be/</a> References: ICH UNESCO, Wikipedia

Kolo: Serbian circle dance

Kolo is a Serbian circle dance that involves the dancers holding each other’s hands or each other’s waist, forming a chain of dancers that revolve in circle. Kolo has different but similar forms throughout Southeastern Europe and phonetically ~oro or ~olo maintains in calling this art of circular dance. Kolo is mainly performed at weddings, religious ceremonies, and any other social gatherings. The participants are both male and female, although there are parts to the dance where it requires one gender to take over as the main role. Traditional attire of Kolo involoves the men having to wear caps, loose blouse tucked into their pants that balloon around their thighs and eventually tightening from the knee down to the ankles. The women have to wear king white embroidered dresses with velvet aprons tied at their waist. The sustainability and transmission process of Kolo is both protected and processed on a national and regional level as it is not only a symbol of national identity but also has regional and local touches to its art form. The masters and bearers transmit Kolo through dancing with participants who engage in Kolo as their national dance. Kolo is both taught in schools and in specialized music schools and has a deep root in the minds of all Serbians. References: ICH UNESCO, Wikipedia

Kurenti: Door to Door custom of Slovenia

From Candlemas to Ash Wednesday Kurenti practices of going from house to house to perform dances and form circles around the owners happen. The practice helps strengthen interpersonal bonds and is key to the regional identity of the communities concerned as it is believed that the noisy bell-ringing and brandishing of their wooden sticks chase everything evil away and bring happiness to those they visit. The Kurenti costume consists of sheep skins, girded with chains that hold huge cow bells, leg warmers and a headgear with horns or feathers, a pointed nose and a bright red tongue. It is the most distinctive among some 150 traditional costumes preserved in Slovenia. Kurenti was inscribed to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2017. Kurenti has been in transmission through regional communities, schools, workshops, and Federation of Kurenti Associations which oversees all of the processes. Kurenti knowledge and skills are most commonly transmitted within the family, but youngsters also learn from elderly members of the groups they are part of and schools and museums play an important role by organizing activities, workshops and contests. References: ICH UNESCO, STA(www.slovenias.SI)

"Current problems in the study of intangible cultural heritage and the implementation of the Convention 2003. Contributions of BAS scientists"

In 2019, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) has a jubilee - 150 years since its creation. In this occasion, in the period 17-19 October 2019, BAS, together with the Regional Center for Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Southeastern Europe under the aegis of UNESCO, organized an international scientific forum on the topic: "Current problems in the study of intangible cultural heritage and the implementation of the Convention 2003. Contributions of BAS scientists". Deadline for submission of applications for participation (author, institution, position, subject, summary with up to 800 signs) is June 15th, 2019. Application must be sent to ban_ich_rc@abv.bg The forum will be held in SOFIA, BAS, CENTRAL GOVERNANCE, GREAT HALL There will be also accompanying events as concerts, exhibition, etc. Transport and accommodation expenses are participants' obligation. Application form is in www.eaff.eu

Living Cultural Heritage - Safeguarding, Practices, Information Technologies LCH-2019

Living Cultural Heritage - Safeguarding, Practices, Information Technologies LCH-2019 26 - 29 August 2019, Nessebar, Bulgaria www.eaff.eu Conference will be held in the frames of the IX World Championship of Folklore "World Folk 2019" organized by the European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF. The forum is aimed to the theme for preservation, presentation and digitization of the cultural heritage and has interdisciplinary nature. The leading purpose is the broad-spectrum interpretation of the concept of living cultural heritage. On the one hand - as a phenomenon of the living cultural practices and in general - as a scientifically systematized digital content of various tangible and intangible values from museums, archives, community centers etc. Sharing the Bulgarian and foreign experience in specialized and interdisciplinary scientific research, the exchange of modern information technology solutions as well, will be useful in achieving meaningful and technologically renewed living knowledge about the cultural heritage. Research institutes, universities, cultural institutions, organizations are invited in order to exchange experience, ideas and results on the subject of the conference. Within the LCH 2019, reports of scientists and young specialists from Bulgaria and abroad will be presented: scientific reports - up to 20 min; messages and presentations - up to 10 min. The costs of transport and accommodation are at the expense of the participants. Participation fee: 50 Euro - The fee is to be paid after received approval for participation Accommodation of the participants, guests and accompanying people: Hotel 3*** - single room - 3 HB (3 nights on half board basis) - 108 Euro per person Hotel 3*** - double room - 3 HB (3 nights on half board basis) - 78 Euro per person Hotel 3*** - triple and quadruple room - 3 HB (3 nights on half board basis) - 66 Euro per person Accommodation is in Holiday Complex Sunny Beach - Ministerial Council on half board basis (overnight, breakfast and lunch included). Accompanying events: Master Class "Kravtsov": https://eaff.eu/en/festivals/228-master-class-kravtsov-accordion; Exhibition of the Scientific Archive of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences "Mihail Arnaudov - life, dedicated to Bulgaria and the science"; Exhibition "Folklore - shared knowledge. Past, present and future", organized by IMI and IEFEM at BAS; Round Table: The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in the Implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage; Round Table: "Ways to Promote Good Practices for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage". The results of the conference will be published afre review in online series, registered in NACID (National center for information and documentation website). Organizers: European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF Euro Folk Academy With support of: Institute of ethnology and folklore sciences with Ethnographic Museum to Bulgarian Academy of Science Institute of Mathematics and Informatics to Bulgarian Academy of Science Saint Peterburg's State Institute of Culture, Russia Period of conduction: August 26th - 29th, 2019 Location: Nessebar, Bulgaria OPENING ceremony: August 26th, 2019 LANGUAGES: Bulgarian, English, Russian REGISTRATION WITH REPORTS AND MESSAGES UNTIL: July 7th, 2019 Applications (title and brief summary) can be submitted online at the official website of the Conference - Application form. CONFIRMATION FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE REPORTS UNTIL: July 14th, 2019 PROGRAM OF THE CONFERENCE will be announced until July 24th, 2019

Expert meeting on intangible cultural heritage in emergencies

DATE: 05/21/2019- 05/22/2019 Location: UNESCO Headquarters, Paris (France) At the request of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, UNESCO is organizing an expert meeting in UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, on 21 - 22 May 2019, with the generous support of the People’s Republic of China. The aim of the meeting is to discuss methodological guidance for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in emergencies. In this context, experts will address notably the two following dimensions: how is intangible cultural heritage itself disrupted and threatened under such circumstances and what can be done for its safeguarding; and, on the other hand, how can intangible cultural heritage be promoted, safeguarded or supported, as a critical means for rebuilding social cohesion, fostering reconciliation and/or facilitating recovery for communities confronted with situations of emergencies. The results of the meeting will be presented to the Director-General of UNESCO and subsequently examined by the Committee when it meets for its fourteenth session in Colombia from 9 to 14 December 2019. News from ICH UNESCO

Bistritsa Babi, archaic polyphony, dances and rituals from the Shoplouk region

Bistritsa Babi are an elderly/multi-generational female vocal ensemble carrying on the traditional dances and polyphonic singing of the Shopluk region of Bulgaria. Bistritsa Babi has been part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2005. The Bistritsa Babi sing at two or three voices, and in different pitches. “Izvikvat” – lead the song while “Buchat krivo” – keep a continuous sound. This makes the harmonic music of Bulgaria a unique sound. People dance the “Horo” dance holding each other the belts of their traditional costumes when they hear the songs. You can see people performing these songs and dances at the ritual of “Lazaruvane” when young girls go around the village collecting eggs. See the video on Youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embqg-yKHNQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embqg-yKHNQ</a> Reference Treasure quest https://heriquest.com/?p=37&l=2&c=9&id=288

Falconry, a living human heritage

Falconry is the traditional activity of keeping and training falcons and other raptors to take quarry in its natural state. Originally a way of obtaining food, falconry is today identified with camaraderie and sharing rather than subsistence. It is mainly found along migration flyways and corridors, and is practised by people of all ages, men and women, amateurs and professionals. Falconers develop a strong relationship and spiritual bond with their birds, and great commitment is required to breed, train, handle and fly the falcons. Falconry is handed down from generation to generation as a cultural tradition by various means, including mentoring, learning within families and formal training in clubs. In the United Arab Emirates, Mongolia, Morocco, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, for example, falconers take their children to the desert and train them to handle the birds and build a relationship of trust with them. While falconers come from different backgrounds, they share common values, traditions and practices such as the methods of training and caring for birds, the equipment used and the bonding between falconer and bird, which are similar throughout the world. Falconry forms the basis of a wider cultural heritage, including traditional dress, food, songs, music, poetry and dance, all of which are sustained by the communities and clubs that practise it.

CICS at the ICHNGO platform in the 7th session of the General Assembly

CICS at the ICHNGO platform

Having wonderful time at 7. GA

Networking with other NGOs for safeguarding ICH is i nspiring!

Seventh Session of the General Assembly

Seventh Session of the General Assembly The seventh session of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage takes place at UNESCO headquarters, Paris, from Monday 4 to Wednesday 6 June 2018. Over the three days, 177 States Parties will discuss a number of issues that are important for the safeguarding of living heritage around the world. In the margin of this Assembly, a series of side-events is being organized by the Secretariat under the global theme of ‘Tell your #living heritage story’. They will exhibit the richness of living heritage today and provide a platform for discourse and experience-sharing among the different actors involved in safeguarding, including the States, NGOs, youth and community members.

2018 ICCN General Assembly

I am pleased to inform that ICCN(Inter-City Intangible Cultural Cooperation Network)is going to host the 2018 ICCN General Assembly in September 5 to 9 in Algemesi, Spain. I would like all ICCN members, experts and other cultural partners to particpate in the ICCN GA. During the GA, La Mare de Deu de la Salut, one of UNESCO ICH, will be held so that it will be a great opportunity to enjoy the UNESCO Festivity for us. At the GA, we have an international conference on the theme of "we want to know your heritage including an executive meeting and the general assembly meeing. In addtion, all participants will have a chance to attend the UNESCO festivity's parade and cultural activities.