The Sub-Regional Forum on Intangible Cultural Heritage and Art took place in Muscat, Oman, bringing together participants to discuss the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage. The event was held to coincide with the International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage, observed annually on October 17, emphasizing the importance of protecting cultural expressions passed down through generations.
The forum was organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and the Ministry of Education, represented by the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. The UNESCO Chair on World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Management in the Arab Region at the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) also contributed to the organization. This partnership reflects a multi-institutional approach to addressing the challenges of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in the region.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mahmoud Al Abri, Secretary-General of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, highlighted the role of art in documenting and transmitting cultural traditions. He also emphasized the importance of education in strengthening cultural identity and noted Oman’s achievements in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.
UNESCO’s participation included a panel discussion featuring Jawida Mansour, Programme Associate for Culture at UNESCO Doha. Mansour presented UNESCO’s tools and methodologies for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage within the communities and places where it is practiced and transmitted. She stressed the importance of community participation in identifying, safeguarding, and promoting living heritage, as well as ensuring the intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge and cultural practices.
Mansour also highlighted UNESCO’s people-centered approach, which recognizes the close connection between communities, cultural expressions, and their cultural landscapes and environments. This approach aims to support sustainable safeguarding practices that respect both cultural diversity and the environments in which heritage is rooted.
The forum’s discussions contributed to a broader understanding of intangible cultural heritage preservation, offering insights for policymakers, cultural practitioners, and communities. By focusing on living heritage in its spatial and social contexts, the event reinforced the ongoing need to maintain cultural diversity in a rapidly changing world.
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