image for illustration: Welsh Cakes, zingyyellow, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Heritage Fund’s ‘UK Heritage Pulse’ has placed its current ‘Spotlight’ on Intangible Cultural Heritage.
UK Heritage Pulse writes:
In May, we received 130 responses to at least one question about Intangible Cultural Heritage, or the monthly Pulse Monitor questions, which track the individual and organisational resilience of respondents.
Key findings from the research exploring Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and living heritage show:
- Intangible Cultural Heritage is human and relational, rather than tied to a physical place. 85% agree a place loses meaning when its people disappear, and 79% agree something irreplaceable is lost when activities tied to a place end.
- Words and stories are ICH’s primary form, with 35% saying it is related to oral traditions and expressions.
- The panel are more likely to have completed self-guided, professional development specifically related to Intangible Cultural Heritage or living heritage, rather than training.
- Dedicated funding or financial support would help the panel engage with Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- Almost 40% were aware of the Heritage Crafts Red List, and some awareness of the other examples. 38% had no awareness of the available inventories/risk lists.
- Almost four-in-ten said Intangible Cultural Heritage was either ‘central to our organisation’s purpose’, or that they have formal strategy. Only 6% ‘don’t knowingly engage’ with it.
- Four-in-five respondents are very or fairly confident they can explain the meaning of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Of those that feel less confident in explaining this concept, 67% are able to define and describe Customs and Traditions.
