Fecha de creación: 1980
Ámbito(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- performing arts
- social practices, rituals and festive events
- knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
- traditional craftsmanship

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education

Países principales de actividades:

Bélgica

Objetivos:
Le Centre Albert Marinus (anciennement Fondation Albert Marinus) porte le nom et prolonge le travail d'Albert Marinus (1886-1979), l'illustre défenseur du patrimoine culturel immatériel de a Belgique. Celui-ci œuvra durant toute sa carrière, tant sur le plan national qu'international, pour une meilleure connaissance en ce domaine. II enseigna aussi Ia sociologie et l'économie politique à l'Institut pour journalistes de Belgique. II devint vice-président de Ia Commission internationale des arts populaires auprès de l’UNESCO de 1947 à 1964. II participa également à Ia création à Londres de I'International Folk Music Council dont il fut vice-président de 1947 à 1972. Auteur de nombreux ouvrages de référence, il recréa I'Ommegang bruxellois en 1930.
Le Centre a donc été créé en 1980, en l'honneur d'Albert Marinus, sociologue, folkloriste et humaniste de réputation internationale.

En tant qu'association sans but lucratif, il poursuit un triple but scientifique:

• Ia sauvegarde et Ia diffusion des écrits et des théories d'Albert Marinus ;
•Ia poursuite de Ia recherche en matière d'ethnologie et de sociologie en développant des études sur Ia vie et les traditions populaires, le patrimoine culturel oral et immatériel ainsi que les métiers d'art ;
• Ia sensibilisation du public aux arts et traditions populaires en tant que patrimoine culturel immatériel mais aussi en tant qu'outil de connaissance et de réflexion sur Ia vie sociale.
D'une manière générale, I' association veille à faire prendre conscience au public le plus large de son appartenance à Ia communauté de langue française de Belgique par Ia réalisation de ces objectifs.
Le Centre ne peut réaliser ces objectifs sans contacts permanents avec des organismes, des associations, des chercheurs qui partagent ses préoccupations, en Belgique et à l'étranger. Elle assure à cet égard le role de "plaque tournante de l’information entre théoriciens, chercheurs, praticiens, amateurs ou grand public.


Actividades:
Les activités du Centre Albert Marinus comprennent plusieurs volets:
- un centre de documentation;
- des activités culturelles de sensibilisation;
- des activités de formation;
- des activités scientifiques et publications

Cooperación:
Le Centre entretient des rapports fréquents avec les acteurs du patrimoine culturel immatériel de Bruxelles et notamment le Meyboom (reconnu par I'UNESCO), I'Ommegang (reconnu par Ia Communauté française), le théâtre de marionnettes de Toone, les différents serments d'arbalétriers. II organise également des échanges d'informations avec les universités belges
(Bruxelles, Liège, Gand, Louvain, Namur) ainsi qu'avec des associations nationales, tant flamandes (VIaamse Centrum voor Volkskultuur, Archief and Museum voor het Vlaams Leven in Brussel…) que wallonnes (Musée de Ia Vie wallonne, Musée en Picon rue, Maison des Géants d'Ath…). Sur le plan international, il communique avec diverses institutions auxquelles il envoie régulièrement ses publications (Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi de San Sebastian, Seminario Permanente de Estudios de Cultura Popular et Patrimonial de Ia Region de Murcia, Société française de Mythologie, Société d'Ethnologie française…).

Jean-Paul Heerbrant, directeur du Centre Marinus, siège dans les instances d'avis de Ia Communauté française de Belgique : Conseil d’ethnologie et Commission du Patrimoine oral et immatériel. Les séances régulières de ces associations sont I'occasion de rencontrer d'autres acteurs du terrain et d'échanger points de vue et nouvelles. Ces rencontres ont d'abord pour finalité de juger des candidatures de reconnaissance au titre de Patrimoine oral et immatériel introduites auprès de Ia Communauté française de Belgique et auprès de l’UNESCO, d'accorder des subventions aux praticiens et aux acteurs du patrimoine culturel immatériel ainsi que d’émettre des avis destinés à Ia Ministre de Ia Culture de Ia Communauté française de Belgique.

Fecha de creación: 2001
Ámbito(s):

- knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
- traditional craftsmanship
- Agriculture, culinary traditions

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education

Países principales de actividades:

Bélgica

Objetivos:
Le Centre d'Histoire Agraire (Centrum Agrarische Geschiedenis - CAG) souhaite, avec toutes les personnes intéressées, étudier le passé de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation , le préserver et le rendre accessible au grand public, afin de donner à cet héritage la place qui lui revient dans la société et sa réelle signification actuelle. Il se veut un point d' appui indépendant pour les initiatives visant la préservation, la valorisation et l'accesibilité de l'héritage en matière d'agriculture, développement rural, préservation du paysage et alimentation.
Le Centre d'Histoire Agraire souhaite informer, éduquer et animer le public plus large possible, en se basant généralement sur l'actualité.
Actividades:
Le Centre fonctionne comme un centre d' expertise dans ce domaine et regroupe des scientifiques des différentes disciplines (histoire, géographie historique, agronomie, sociologie, économie, ...)
Cooperación:
The Centre for Agrarian History is being supported by the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), Cera, Boerenbond, VLAM and the Flemish Community.

Fecha de creación: 1980
Costo: U.S.$900000
Ámbito(s):

- social practices, rituals and festive events
- traditional craftsmanship
- traditional games

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- revitalization

Países principales de actividades:

Alemania, Bélgica, Dinamarca, España, Francia, Italia, Países Bajos, Portugal, Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte

Objetivos:
The Centre for Sport Culture (CSC, formerly Vlaamse Volkssport Centrale) - a non profit organisation - was established for the study, promotion and safeguarding of traditional sports and games. The roots of the CSC lie in an extensive research programme (Katholieke Universtiteit Leuven) on the history and the current situation of traditional games in Flanders (the Dutch speaking part of Belgium), started by prof. R Renson in 1973. The unexpected richness and variety of traditional games lead to the foundation of the CSC in order to promote this (endangered) sporting heritage and to get people acquainted (again) with the traditional games.

The mission of the CSC states that the CSC must be a centre of expertise in safeguarding the intangible heritage of the traditional and modern movement culture in vivo and in situ via identification, documentation, research, protection, handing down, revitalizing … on a national and international level.
To achieve this objective the CSC took over, partially, the research from the university and developed a range of initiatives (publications, library & documentation centre, exhibitions, tourist routes, conferences, lending services, …).

Gradually the CSC broadened its scope to a European and even a worldwide scale. On a European level the CSC carried out a lot of demonstrations of traditional games abroad and invited traditional games practitioners from many countries to Belgium for demonstrations and exchanges. In line with these activities, the CSC was among the founding members of the European Traditional Sports and Games Association (2001). The activities worldwide concern mainly research, publications, the gathering of documentation and exchange of information.

From 2000 onwards, the CSC committed itself, together with Sportmuseum Vlaanderen (Sports Museum Flanders) to realise the Sportimonium-project, a museum about the sports history of Flanders in its national and international context. Especially as traditional games are concerned, both the tangible (artefacts) and intangible (loan service, games park –see further) aspect of the sporting heritage is taken into account.

Actividades:
The Centre for Sport Culture (CSC) has launched a variety of initiatives for safeguarding the tangible and intangible heritage of traditional games and sports:

Research
- In collaboration with the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, the CSC carries out research on traditional games (inventory, evolution, organisational structure, ..) and supervises, as co-promotor, papers and theses (bachelor and master degree). For enquiries the centre calls upon the traditional sports federations for collaboration.
- the CSC organized the ‘Second European Seminar on Traditional Games’ (Leuven, 1990) on behalf of the Council of Europe.
- the CSC organised a symposion (Leuven, 2004) to present and discuss the results of its research project on the evolution of traditional games in Flanders 1982-2002.

Publications
- CSC was the editor of a series of 8 publications on traditional games (history, specific language, rules, dissemination, social aspects, …), 1980-1988
- CSC is editor of the journal ‘Sportimonium’ (history of sport, traditional games), 1980–up to now
- Staff members contributed about one hundred articles to many (inter)national reviews and books, 1980–up to now.

Documentation centre and library (open to the general public)
- ca. 2000 books on traditional games (worldwide)
- a series of periodicals
- archives

Artefacts
The CSC has gathered hundreds of artefacts and thousands of audiovisual documents related to traditional games (playing equipment, garment, photographs, posters, songs, interviews with the practitioners, footage …). This collection has been handed over to the Sportimonium in 2000. In this museum one of the sections is entirely dedicated to traditional games worldwide.

Promotion
- a large travelling exhibition ‘Traditional games in Flanders’ has been set up in about 15 cities (1980-1990) and smaller travelling exhibitions are available for schools, cultural and sport centres. A travelling exhibition ‘Traditional games in Europe’ is also available,
- organizing demonstrations/festivals and initiations of traditional games (in close cooperation with the practitioners),
- the CSC manages within the Sportimonium-project a park of traditional games (since 2005). The action and interaction inherent in this sort of heritage cannot be ‘stowed’ in the museum depot nor can it be experienced in a static exhibition. Therefore the visitors can get acquainted with the skills of a variety of traditional games which are still practised (locally) in Flanders.
- in the same line the CSC runs a series of loan services all over the country for traditional games in order to provide people with the equipment for practising at festivals, family feasts, school and youth movement activities,
- the games equipment for the above mentioned loan service is produced, based on the authentic examples, in the CSC’s own workshop.The CSC provides assistance in building/restoring traditional sports infrastructure.
- the Sportimonium mainly focuses on school classes (10-14 year) to teach them about sports heritage. Another important target group are the students physical education/sports (bachelor and master degree). As the future teachers and sport administrators they are invited to the Sportimonium in order to sensitize them and to get them acquainted with traditional games. They are therefore able to hand this down to the next generations in schools or by supporting the practitioners of traditional games, the bearers of intangible heritage, on regional/municipal level.

Counselling and support
- supporting festivals organized by the traditional games players
- helping clubs, federation and their individual members in research matters
- counselling associations or federations for candidatures for the Belgian list of elements of intangible heritage
- participation in (governmental) assessment committees (cultural matters)
- collaboration with Unesco (project on traditional games 1990, platform for traditional games worldwide 2006-2009).

Personnel: manager (1), research/fieldworker (1), administrator (1), workshop (3), library (2).
The staff of the CSC has almost 30 years experience in safeguarding traditional games. The staff members (3) have university degrees and have followed in the course of years many courses related to the safeguarding of (intangible) heritage. The CSC is in close contact with other organisations in the country taking care of popular culture in order to exchange experience.
The same goes for engagement in the international network of the European Association for Traditional Sports and Games, of which the CSC has been among the pioneers. Due to these constant contacts, on the one hand with the practitioners of traditional games and at the other hand with professionals working in the fields of culture, sport and tourism the personnel of the CSC has acquainted its competences.
The composition of the supervising CSC-General Assembly – a mix of university professors (sports history, sports sociology, ethnography, literature, …), directors/chairmen of (traditional) sports organisations, museum collaborators, directors of cultural institutions … guarantees a high standard quality

Cooperación:
The CSC has established over the years good contacts with many practitioners and their clubs and federations. The CSC has been instrumental in helping the clubs to get in contact with each other and to found (if appropriate) federations of their own. This resulted in 1988 in the foundation of a confederation for traditional games (Vlaamse Traditionele Sporten vzw, VlaS) with the CSC as one of the founding members. This confederation grew steadily from 500 to 12.000 members and acts now as an umbrella organisation for 23 types of traditional games.
The CSC is member of the board of directors of VlaS and vice versa, firstly in order to be well informed about each other activities and initiatives, secondly to collaborate where appropriate.
While constructing the traditional games park, there has been close cooperation with practitioners in testing and adapting the facilities in full respect with the games while using – if possible - modern materials. The latter being important to make the ‘old fashioned’ games a little more attractive to young(er) people.
One of the CSC objectives is to make the bearers of the intangible heritage, i.e. the players themselves, aware of the importance and richness of their activities. This must lead to an enhanced self-consciousness towards heritage in order to hand it down and to defend it.
Important for the CSC remains, furthermore, exchange and collaboration with other organisations experienced in the domain of popular culture and in safeguarding intangible heritage.

Fecha de creación: 1999
Costo: U.S.$2500000
Ámbito(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- performing arts
- social practices, rituals and festive events
- knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
- traditional craftsmanship
- other
- Foodways, traditional sports and games, information technology for heritage, cyberculture, heritage education.

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- other
- Impact analysis and policy evaluation, surveys, promoting sustainable development, use of information technology, participation methods and cultural brokerage.

Países principales de actividades:

Bélgica, Francia, Países Bajos, Sudáfrica

Objetivos:
The Non-Governmental Organization FARO functions as a support center to make interesting policy instruments like the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the 2005 Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society and in particular the (new) cultural heritage decree of the Flemish Community (23 May 2008), work in practice and to explore their full potential. FARO acts as an interface between local, provincial, regional and national governments, international networks, local and national heritage organizations and institutions, the academic world and civil society. Cultivating open collaboration and win-win-situations is a preferred method, next to stimulating communities of practice, reflexivity and working towards milestones and good practices in heritage projects. FARO assists heritage networks and organizations to develop strategies and helps to put these plans in practice. FARO is a professional interdisciplinary organization doing and facilitating research, exploring and distributing information about new working methods and good practices, cultivating innovation in safeguarding programs. Raising awareness and promoting dialogue about and through cultural heritage and enhancing visibility of safeguarding practices in the field of intangible and tangible heritage, are main objectives. Studying the effects and impact of cultural heritage policy and practices and giving feedback to policy makers and organizations are also an important challenge. Facilitating international cooperation and exchange and stimulating organisations in Flanders and Brussels to participate in international debates and projects is a crucial objective. For more information see www.faronet.be.
Actividades:
FARO is the interface for cultural heritage in Flanders/Belgium, providing practical support and other services for museums, archives, popular culture organisations,heritage NGOs and intangible cultural heritage practioners. This includes organizing courses, workshops and training programs, coaching and training field specialists and cultural brokers, publishing books, journals, DVDs and making websites about cultural heritage, developing a documentation and information center, conducting surveys and systematic research, sensitizing and envolving civil society for cultural heritage issues. The interdisciplinary team uses methods and theories of cultural anthropology, ethnology, cultural and social history, public history, art history, linguistics, information science, cultural studies, museology, archivistics and heritage studies. FARO has a specialized library focussed on heritage studies, popular culture and methodology. Special efforts are devoted to ICT and digitization programs, in particular webbased applications and multimedia projects. Programs are being developed for sustainable development, deontology and ethics in heritage safeguarding practices and intercultural exchange. FARO provides expert assistance in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage to groups and communities requesting help. FARO also coordinates recurrent national events, like the cultural heritage day or the week of taste. Implementing and combining international conventions is crucial in the strategy of FARO.
FARO has a staff of (on average) 30 full-time employees (21 staff members and, on average, 9 temporary project managers or collaborators) , of which 80% has an academic degree (Ph.D. or master) in heritage studies, history, art history, linguistics, anthropology, information and computer sciences or other disciplines. FARO is the result of the fusion in 2007/2008 of the VCV (NGO founded in 1999, for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage) and CBV (NGO for museums, archives and heritage consultants). The staff of both organizations (VCV en CBV) is now active in the new network organisation FARO, cultivating interdisciplinary collaboration and working. The annual budget ranges between 2 and 3 million euros.
Marc Jacobs, Ph. D., director of FARO, has participated as an official expert in all phases of the drafting process of the 2003 UNESCO convention and was the expert representing Belgium in the Intergovernmental Committee in 2006-2008. This illustrates how active VCV, now FARO, has been involved in the whole process of preparing and then implementing the 2003 UNESCO-convention for the safeguarding of ICH.

Cooperación:
FARO is the official national support organization in Flanders (including Brussels) for heritage networks, volunteer organisations, local communities, tangible and intangible heritage specialist and practioners.(see www.faronet.be). It is subsidized by the Flemish government to develop and implement methods, training programs and platforms for empowering groups and practitioners to participate in heritage work and policy issues. The Flemish Center for the study of Popular Culture (VCV) now FARO, has since 1999 succesfully managed (in helping) to include volunteer networks and NGOs as full participants in heritage policy and debates, resulting in the official recognition in the 23-5-2008 decree on cultural heritage in Flanders. VCV/FARO has set up dozens of projects with heritage communities and groups (see www.faronet.be). Intercultural contacts, cultural diversity and working with migrant groups is a specific focus of FARO. FARO is also participating in projects establishing international networks of NGOs and stimulating communication (see for instance http://www.heritage-organisations.eu/).

Fecha de creación: 1978
Ámbito(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- performing arts
- social practices, rituals and festive events
- knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- revitalization

Países principales de actividades:

Albania, Alemania, Austria, Bélgica, Bosnia y Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Chequia, Chipre, Croacia, Dinamarca, Eslovaquia, España, Estonia, Finlandia, Francia, Grecia, Hungría, Irlanda, Italia, Letonia, Lituania, Luxemburgo, Malta, Montenegro, Noruega, Países Bajos, Polonia, Portugal, Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, República d

Objetivos:
FACE's main objectives are to promote hunting, in accordance with the principle of wise and sustainable use of natural resources, as a tool for rural development and conservation of our wildlife and biodiversity, as well as to preserve hunting as a cultural heritage together with the hunters' communities by allowing hunting traditions and shared knowledge to be passed on. As part of this FACE, representing 7,000,000 hunters and recognising the rich cultural traditions associated with hunting and hunters, works to safeguarding the undeniable, rich and varied cultural aspects that sustainable hunting traditions have added to and have helped to enriched Europe’s common heritage, as reflected over the centuries in our art, gastronomy, music and literature.

Additional information:
1) To promote and defend hunting, in accordance with the principles of sustainable use of natural ressources. Hunting has long and deep traditions spanning over thousands of years. Hunting as such (i.e. different hunting methods, such as hunting with hounds, falconry, stalking, calling etc.) as well as the traditions associated with hunting (like music, art, festive events, literature, knowledge about nature, gastronomy, hunting artefacts) constitute a rich and multiMfaceted intangible cultural heritage. In promoting and defending hunting, FACE seeks to safeguard a cultural heritage together with hunters' communities by allowing hunting traditions and shared knowledge to be passed on.
2) To establish and maintain permanent relations and exchanges between hunting associations, supporting their efforts and taking part in their work.
3) To defend the moral and physical interests of members of Member Associations, taking joint decisions on subjects of common interest and implementing those decisions.
This along with the promotion of hunting (as mentioned in point 1) implies to develop, maintain and amend national and international laws, treaties and conventions to permit the pursuit and perpetuation of hunting traditions, hunters' interaction with nature and their history, which provide our members with a sense of identity and continuity.
4) To contribute towards enlightening the public at large as to the principles of sustainable hunting, their value in the management and wise use of game and its habitats, as well as to the important role the public can play in the conservation of game and its habitats. This includes to uphold a positive public image of hunting and respect for hunting culture and traditions.
5) To promote all forms of activity, research and contacts associated with game and habitats, in particular with all national and international organisations which have similar concerns or would help in achieving the Federation's goal.
6) To raise and manage funds to contribute financially to projects of scientific research, of technical work, of conservation and management of wildlife and its habitats, of information and awareness raising and to any other initiative aiming to promote biodiversity conservation through the sustainable use of renewable natural resources.
Actividades:
As a Federation much of the direct activities related to safeguarding cultural heritage is conducted by our Members who in many cases have persons dedicated to managing cultural heritage activities (e.g. horn blowing, different hunting methods, gastronomy, etc.) and regularly organise training and events to keep the traditions alive. (See section 7)
We have also organised events at a European level to showcase hunting's rich cultural heritage, including a high level event at the European Parliament called “Hunting & Culture”.

Additional information:
FACE is a non-profit international organisation, which represents national Member Associations from 36 European countries whose total membership is 7,000,000 individuals. FACE is ensuring an active membership community to pursue the objectives for which it was established. It regularly convenes the Member Associations in various Working Groups, such as the ones on 'hunting with hounds', 'bow hunting', 'ethics', 'how to communicate hunting' and others. It organises an Annual General Meeting to discuss matters of the Federation. It provides a platform for contacts between its Members and
European decision-makers, inter alia in the framework of the Intergroup "Sustainable Hunting, Biodiversity & Rural Activities", which meets regularly in the European Parliament and for which FACE is providing the Secretariat. In addition FACE is organising events showcasing huntings' rich cultural heritage, such as the recent on "Hunting and Culture" in the European Parliament, held on 22 April 2009, where participants had a gastronomic experience of game meat traditions from Austria and France, could listen to German and French hornblowers and met wildlife painters displaying their art.

Representatives of FACE in our Member Associations are organising numerous activities related to the safeguarding of hunting as a cultural heritage and are dedicated to managing cultural heritage activities (e.g. different hunting methods - such as stalking, calling, hunting with hounds, falconry, hornblowing, gastronomy, festive events, etc.). They regularly organise training (hunting courses, courses in taxidermy and the making of hunting artefacts) and events to keep the traditions alive. A part of showing hunting to
the greater public is the organising of hunters' festivals: e.g. the annual Mednieku festivals Minhauzens in Latvia (the 12th being organised by FACE's Latvian Association in 2010), bringing together hunters and non-hunters to share knowledge about hunting. FACE's Slovak Association organised the annual Hunting Days in Levice (this year for the 15th time), where representatives from the State and Town Council, and a large
number of visistors could admire exhibitions about nature and animals and the presentation and science on hunting trophies. Seminars are organised to promote and inform about specific traditions in the domain of hunting, like the one on hunting with hounds in Chambourg, France, in June 2009, or the one on game-meat in Stockholm, Sweden, in July 2009. In Italy and France and other Mediterranean countries hunters
organisations hold bird regular calling competitions.

Hunting as a intangible cultural heritage is being described by FACE and its Members in Ibooks and films: e.g. the role of hunters as holders of certain cultural values in society is described by our Swedish Association in the short film "Ett satt att leva" - "A way of living". Similar actions are carried out by most FACE Members.
Cooperación:
As mentioned above our Members, who are the representative hunting associations of 36 European countries, contribute to safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage of hunting. As a Federation we recognise four broad social cultures of hunting in Europe as follows:
1. Anglo-saxon
2. Germanic
3. Nordic
4. Mediterranean

We as a Federation maintain dialogue and exchanges between these different hunting cultures and also with other rural stakeholders. Individually our Members maintain cultural practices in their countries in line with the standards and ethics of hunting. In particular they maintain traditions and practices through training and organisation of events - e.g. horn blowing, singing, story telling, bird calling, hunting terms/language and cooking.

It should also be recognised that hunters being both urban and rural based bridge the growing urban-rural divide and actively participate in important local cultural activities e.g. The Baltic Song and Dance Celebrations & the Slovácko Verbuňk, Recruit Dances.

Additional information:
Since its foundation in 1978, FACE, through various Members, has promoted and defended the practice, tradition and heritage of hunting where it has existed for centuries. As a Federation, our Members undertake to maintain aspects of their national hunting culture together with other rural stakeholders. FACE Members organise national exhibitions, contests and educational events related to their hunting culture. Where regions share similar cultures (Anglo-Saxon, Nordic, Central European & Mediterranean)
their Membership to FACE facilitates cooperation in promoting and safeguarding their hunting culture. At European and international levels FACE promotes this rich hunting heritage as shown in our Manifesto for the period 2009-2014. This is done through various means, but in all cases through drawing on the expertise and knowledge from within our Membership. Where the cultural elements relate directly to the taking of wildlife we work to ensure that these traditional socio-cultural practices are in line with
the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Articles 8j & 10c). We are aware that there is a need to cooperate in a spirit of mutual respect especially on heritage issues related to hunting, which can on occasion be divisive. In this regard we are engaging in proactive consultation to overcome conflicts, where they exist.

As a Secretariat we intervene when required to protect or promote the practice tradition and heritage of hunting. We regularly attend and lend support to national hunting events,most of which include significant elements related to the tradition and heritage of hunting.

Fecha de creación: 1941
Costo: U.S.$268850
Ámbito(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- performing arts
- social practices, rituals and festive events
- traditional craftsmanship
- local heritage, heritage education and voluntary work

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- revitalization

Países principales de actividades:

Bélgica

Objetivos:
Heemkunde Vlaanderen wants to be a platform for the heritage community of volunteers studying the local and regional history in Flanders. All objectives of the organization contribute to the general aim of safeguarding the intangible and tangible heritage in Flanders, and sustaining and transmitting this heritage to future generations:
- Heemkunde Vlaanderen wants to support all volunteers and voluntary organizations that are active in the field of local and regional history and heritage. Heemkunde Vlaanderen stimulates the work carried out by 600 local organizations by giving support and training, by informing them through publications and newsletters, by facilitating the access to information, by organizing conferences, by informing them about policy decisions, by making their voice heard at a political level, by participating as a representative body in decision making processes, etc.
- Heemkunde Vlaanderen wants to support and train local museums, archives and documentation centers. This support concerns all aspects of managing and presenting the local heritage collections.
- Heemkunde Vlaanderen is an association that brings people together who value the history and the heritage of their own local environment and region. The exchange of ideas and information is a central point of departure.
- Heemkunde Vlaanderen wants to be an organization that works in a European and international perspective and that stimulates people to use culture as an instrument towards mutual understanding, respect and sustainable development.
- Heemkunde Vlaanderen wants to be an organization that contributes to an honest and democratic society, respecting cultural diversity and human creativity.
Actividades:
Heemkunde Vlaanderen offers support and training to local heritage organisations, individual heritage volunteers and local museums and archives dedicated to local heritage. The activities of the organization are of great value for safeguarding the intangible heritage in Flanders, albeit often in an indirect way. By stimulating and supporting the local commitment of thousands of volunteers, the organization plays an important role in safeguarding the Flemish heritage. The organization currently has five staff members, all of them specialized in (public) history and heritage, both tangible and intangible. One of the staff members acts as a consultant for local voluntary groups,
while two staff members both coordinate a specific project, resp. about local heritage museums and an international heritage project. A coordinator oversees the activities of the organization, backed up by a director. It is impossible to present all activities in which the organization is involved, but some recent examples will illustrate the wide range of activities concerning intangible heritage carried out by the organization.
- Organization of courses about a.o. oral history and preservation of audiovisual media: the aim is to offer methodologies and good practices to the community of volunteers, giving them the opportunity to preserve their heritage in a durable and qualitative way.
- Organization of annual general meetings, focusing on a specific heritage theme. Often this theme is related to intangible cultural heritage, e.g. culinary heritage and folk language (2005) or carnival (2007).
- Promotion of intangible heritage at general cultural and heritage events. Recently a heritage movie was broadcasted at the annual Flemish Heritage Day, showing testimonies of several people with a different (cultural) background. Cultural diversity is an important issue for the organization in general, and this subject is explored through several pilot projects.
- In a lot of activities, special attention is given to the participation of children and youngsters. Heritage education is an important issue for the organization in general.
- The organization permanently follows up national and international evolutions in heritage policy. Recently, the organization was asked to be a partner to support the nomination of the well-known carnival in Aalst for inscription on the Representative list of intangible heritage.
- In recent years the organization was a partner in projects about a.o. folk dances, the immaterial remains of the colonial history in Flanders, the immaterial heritage of stone quarries, the heritage of a youth movement and a competition for heritage movies.
Cooperación:
Heemkunde Vlaanderen is the umbrella organization of associations of local history volunteers in Flanders. The membership of this non-profit association consists of roughly 450 voluntary associations, 426 local museums and 306 local archives and doumentation centres. The cooperation with all these heritage volunteers forms the
backbone of the organization. The collaboration with and among these heritage volunteers is genereally considered as a enriching experience for all parties. All collaborative projects are carried out in a spirit of mutual respect. As the examples mentioned above cleary indicate, the exchange of ideas and information is a central
point of departure. Through all its activities Heemkunde Vlaanderen strives to contribute to a honest and democratic society, respecting cultural diversity and human creativity.
One project, however, deserves special attention. Together with two other Belgian heritage NGOs Heemkunde Vlaanderen also took the initiative to build up a new and open European network of heritage organizations: the Inventory of Heritage Organisations in Europe (IHOE - www.heritage-organisations.eu). At this moment more
than 330 organizations registered themselves on this website. This network is still constantly growing. This bottom-up initiative is a pioneering venture and might play a crucial role in the future of an active European civil society for heritage. In March 2009 a European conference on civil society organizations active in the field of heritage will be organized in Mechelen. About 180 people from 25 countries are expected to participate
at this conference.

Fecha de creación: 1973
Ámbito(s):

- performing arts
- traditional craftsmanship

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- revitalization

Países principales de actividades:

Bélgica

Objetivos:
- MISSION STATEMENT
The Firmament is an acknowledged nationwide centre for puppetry heritage. It acts as an inspiring and professional pioneering organisation, by acquiring and transferring knowledge and expertise on the tangible as well as the intangible aspects of puppetry heritage. The main focus is on safeguarding, research, and contemporary techniques of presentation. By doing so, The Firmament tries to enhance the visibility of the art of puppetry and its dynamic heritage.
The Firmament wants to be a place where people related to theatre and heritage, can meet each other, and can connect with the public. In this way, it wants to broaden the puppetry heritage community, both nationally and internationally.

- OBJECTIVES
All objectives contribute to the general aim of safeguarding the intangible and tangible heritage of puppetry in Flanders, and sustaining and transmitting this heritage to future generations:
1. The Firmament maps the puppetry heritage in Flanders in a methodological manner.
2. The Firmament proactively puts its knowledge and expertise concerning the intangible puppetry heritage at the disposal of the cultural heritage community. This community consists of organizations and persons who value the puppetry heritage.
3. The Firmament continually wants to extend its services, by:
- improving the safeguarding of tangible and intangible puppetry heritage in Flanders;
- bringing the tangible and intangible puppetry heritage in Flanders under the attention of the public;
- stimulating education and academic research on the subject of puppetry heritage;
- sharing international networks and knowledge gained through these networks with the cultural heritage community. The Firmament is an organization that operates in a European and international perspective and that stimulates the use of culture as an instrument of communication.
4. The Firmament takes responsibility in digitalizing the cultural heritage according to internationally accepted standards.
5. The Firmament focuses its attention on the ethnic-cultural diversity of its staff and board of directors and initiates activities with regard to diversity and intercultural projects.
Actividades:
Since the foundation of The Firmament in 1968, important initiatives are taken in order to safeguard the tangible and intangible heritage of puppetry in Flanders. Taken into account the elaborate history of the organization, only some recent activities will be looked at more closely.
One project however deserves special attention:
1. Realisation of the ‘masterplan for puppetry and its heritage in Flanders’ (September 2009).
The latest UNESCO convention regarding intangible cultural heritage has gone anything but unnoticed in Flanders. Due to the fast pace of activities at the convention with regard to intangible cultural heritage, the heritage guardians in Flanders were also addressed very rapidly: as it happens, there did not, and still do not exist any ready-made models, guidelines or regulations on how to fit this ‘new’ and very fragile heritage form into the dynamics of the existing cultural policy. Hence, the Flemish government reasoned that by examining a limited number of ‘good examples’ it would be possible to determine how best this immaterial cultural heritage would be assured a stable future.
The ‘masterplan for puppetry and its heritage’ can be seen as one such ‘good example’, because the methodology utilized can be transported and re-used without much difficulty in many similar fields. The research project has been conducted by The Firmament for three years, at the request of the Ministry of Culture, the Department of Art and Heritage.
During these three years, multiple methods were developed to gather, preserve and share the intangible puppetry heritage.
A vast amount of information was gathered this way, which never had been done before. By doing so, The Firmament hopes to have created a foundation for a profound policy concerning puppetry heritage in Flanders.
2. The organization of yearly conferences for everybody with a keen interest in puppetry and its heritage.
Through lectures, workshops and interviews, current topics concerning puppetry theatre and its heritage are dealt with. Renowned speakers clarify their vision on puppetry theatre and its heritage in the 21st century. Different performances demonstrate the diversity of the world of puppetry. The conferences offer a lot of opportunities to establish and maintain networks. Also, the intermediate results of the ‘masterplan’ are presented to international experts. Het Firmament already had the privilege to welcome Janne Vibaek of the ‘Opera dei Pupi’ from Sicily (2006), Lucile Bodson from the ‘Institut International de la Marionnette’ in France (2008), and many other guests from the Netherlands and Germany.
3. The organization of exhibitions concerning puppetry and its heritage, with special attention to intangible puppetry heritage.
Current examples are ‘Encounters in the puppetry theatre’ and ‘Bedtime stories in the castle’. Apart form that, The Firmament takes initiatives on a regular base to present the puppetry heritage in an original way, for example the project In-Fusion/Hayat, a puppetry project in hospitals about diversity and racial differences. The Firmament also made a promotional video clip for the Belgian National Television. Using puppets created over 60 years ago, a modern video clip was recorded.
4. The Firmament nurses the intangible puppetry heritage, which is incorporated in the 'living human treasures'. They get the opportunity to pass on their unique knowledge and expertise to students, by means of workshops (among other things). Since there is no formal training for puppeteers in Flanders at the moment, workshops are an important means to preserve and transfer this intangible heritage.
5. The website of The Firmament (www.hetfirmament.be) serves as a platform where a large amount of information about puppetry (history, techniques, theatre companies, etc.) can be found. The website also features a multimedia page containing samples of puppetry videos, with special attention to the intangible aspect of the puppetry heritage.

The Firmament seeks to surprise a diverse audience with the unique magic of puppetry and its heritage. The Firmament develops a stimulating meeting point on the crossroads of tradition and experiment, art and education, heritage and theatre, research and practice.
Cooperación:
Belgium is renowned for its extensive puppetry tradition, which can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Travelling puppeteers established themselves as community in Flanders around 1800. As of then, certain (local) traditions took shape gradually, and were passed on from generation to generation. As an example: 'Koninklijk Poppentheater Toone' from Brussels performed for the first time in the 1830s, and the ‘Poesje van de Reep’ from Antwerp in 1862. Both are still performing today.
The Flanders puppetry heritage is situated in the performance arts as well as in the traditional craftsmanship. Intangible puppetry heritage consists of construction techniques, stage techniques, stories and myths, but also of performances. These are passed on by means of education, interviewing key players and performances. Indeed, performances are not just a way to pass on intangible heritage, but are intangible heritage themselves.
Nowadays, some eighty puppetry companies are active in Flanders, and they range from very traditional to contemporary. All these companies, added up with the sixty non-active companies, are regularly contacted by The Firmament and get into debate about the value of heritage.
Together, they preserve no less than 16.500 puppets. This is an impressive figure, but the real meaning of puppetry heritage relies in the fact of reusing and updating it, e.g. by means of performances.
In this perspective, The Firmament keeps tight connections with the performance arts in general and the amateur puppetry arts, and presents it on a regular base to the public.
The Firmament is, as such, active on the crossroads of different domains in which it has built an extensive network over years.
The organisation can rely on different heritage experts and partner organizations. Apart from oral history projects, The Firmament gives special attention to the transfer of intangible heritage, like stage and construction techniques. ‘Living human treasures’ get the opportunity to pass on their unique knowledge and expertise to students, so that this intangible heritage is not lost. In this way, The Firmament has a broad contact with puppeteers in Flanders, both starters and experienced performers.

Fecha de creación: 1964
Costo: U.S.$60000
Ámbito(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- performing arts
- social practices, rituals and festive events
- traditional craftsmanship
- other
- Flemish folk music, flag waving, traditional costumes

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- revitalization

Países principales de actividades:

Bélgica

Objetivos:
PEOPLE
IVV is a partner to all active participants, organisations and people interested in Flemish Folk Art. Up to now all publications have been made in Flemish (Dutch), but in the near future cooperation will be sought on an international level for publishing.
The members of the IVV are experienced practitioners of folk dance, folk music, flag waving and traditional fashions. IVV is an open organisation with no restriction as to people, politics or geographical boundaries.
PRODUCT
Folk art includes every culturally precious ‘product’ from a living ethnic community. It can also be considered as all kind of art emerging from a community. Flemish folk art belongs to Flemish Folklore within the immaterial cultural heritage of Flanders. ‘Flemish’ refers to what has been traceable within the larger Flemish historical communities (= within the Belgian, French and Dutch context). IVV concentrates on traditional (= at least 50 years existence) and contemporary folkdances, folk music, flag waving and traditional fashions.
PROCESS
IVV consists of four working parties dealing with:
(1) the study of dances and dancing music;
(2) the study flag waving
(3) the study of traditional fashions
(4) communication: a.o; editing the quarterly journal.
All working parties are meeting at least 6 times a year and their members are working on publications in the field.
IVV is a non profit organisation. It has a general committee and a general assemblee.
IVV is officially recognized by the Flemish Government and receives a annual budget of
40,000 euro. IVV has one part-time staff member.
Actividades:
Main activities of IVV are concentrating on collecting, archiving, studying, translating,
reworking, publishing and teaching about folkdances, flag waving sequences, songs and
description of traditional fashions. Study is based on oral and written sources in Flanders
as well as abroad. IVV is co-operating with partner organizations within the field for study
and organizing courses and interactive workshops and for enabling the exploration of
archives.
FOLK DANCE
From 1964 until now 18 books were published. They cover 160 traditional Flemish
dances. Another 10 editions have been made with dances recently designed in folk
dance groups. One edition deals with terminology and vocabulary used to describe the
dances. All editions instruct the reader with historical background, description, music and
figures or drawings of dances. The working party on Flemish folk dances is also involved
in courses and interactive workshops.
Activities are actually focused on historical elements and dances within the traditional
archery guilds, study and visualization of variations on basic dances like polka, scottish,
mazurka, walzer and quadrille and editing newly created dances. The main challenge for
the working party is to keep folk dance attractive and to guarantee quality in performing.
FLAG WAVING
A basic handbook about the historical background and the technique of flag waving was
published in 1974. Six other editions cover specific flag waving sequences, a part is
historically based, another part comprise newly created combinations. This working party
made an edition with vocabulary and terminology of flag waving and another edition
about drum playing when accompanying the flag waving.
Actually new creations are noticed and recorded. The working party on flag waving has
its annual instructive course and is co-operating with partner organizations to spread the
culture and technique of flag waving within these organizations.
TRADITIONAL FASHIONS
A first standard work on local fashions in Flanders was published in 1994, the subject
being part of the ‘submerged cultural heritage’. It deals with local traditional costumes, a
fashion that’s always 50 years behind. A great deal of information on the development of
this clothing was obtained from paintings, drawings, description of people from the
recent past. In this book attention is devoted mainly to the period between 1750 and
1950, with an occasional glance back at the 16th and 17th centuries. A second edition
will appear in 2009. It will deal with thematic aspects (particular clothing elements),
geographical differences in clothing and the social role of clothing with special attention
to multicultural influences.
COMMUNICATION
The working party started its activities officially in 2008. It deals with diverse aspects of communication. Challenges for this working party are the content of the quarterly journal and renewal of its lay-out. By optimizing the opportunities of the website and translating the texts disseminated in at least four languages this medium must enable IVV to spread its information across Europe.
Cooperación:
The number of groups dealing with intangible cultural heritage is high in Flanders, due to individual, historical and political reasons. From its origin IVV has co-operated with different federations and organisations without any restriction. There is a large representation of these bodies within the working parties of IVV and within its
membership. Up to now there are no structural or ideological conflicts hampering cooperation of IVV with partners in the sector.
In July 2008, IVV presented a feasibility study to the Flemish Government about the role it could fulfil as intangible cultural heritage organisation in the Flemish community. A structural interview was carried out with 16 partner organisations. These interviews were written down verbatim, analysed on keywords grouped in a code book and clustered.
Additionally an inquiry was sent to 34 other partner organisations of which 62% responded. These inquiries were also analysed and the results qualitatively studied. This feasibility study gives us a clear view on the tasks and the responsibilities of IVV within the sector of intangible cultural heritage. According to the interviewees and the
inquired partner organisations IVV is regarded as a centre of excellence with regard to the study of traditional and contemporary Flemish folkdance (+ related songs and music), flag waving and fashions. It is expected that IVV collaborates within the sector for its research and that it will continue to spread the findings through the partner
organisations by publications, visualising, courses and interactive working parties.
Several partners offered to mediate in the multicultural approach of comparatively studying symbols and rites as well as outing of dance, song, music and fashions on the national and European level. The challenge of making the collaboration structurally visible within the sector of intangible cultural heritage can be met if IVV succeeds to get more staff and budget. As a direct consequence of the feasibility study, the above mentioned findings were translated into strategic and operational objectives and submitted to the Cultural Department of the Flemish Government.

Fecha de creación: 2004
Ámbito(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- performing arts
- knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
- traditional craftsmanship
- other
- indigenous food processing, local horticultural practices (including preservation/seedbank for old, local varieties of vegetables, grains and fruits), traditional medicine

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- preservation, protection
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- revitalization

Países principales de actividades:

Bélgica, India

Objetivos:
INTACH Belgium is the Belgian chapter of the Indian National Trust of Art and Cultural Heritage (www.intach.org), and adheres to the main objective of INTACH : the preservation and development of Indian heritage (both tangible and intangible, both human-made and natural) through community based actions. The main project of INTACH Belgium is "The Lost Gardens of Khajuraho" (www.intach.be) : through the revitalization of some 12 unique 18th century royal domains in the Khajuraho region (aka Bundelkhand), a drought prone rural part of Madhya Pradesh (India), we try to preserve the local varieties of vegetables, grains and fruits, and to introduce the principles of conservation agriculture, organic farming and sustainable produce processing, starting from the age-old lore still (although only scarcely) present in the region. This involves training sessions for the local farmers in the use of local traditions for farming, cooking, curing diseases, traditional house construction. For the agricultural/horticultural part INTACH Belgium collaborates closely with the Navdanya movement of Dr. Vandana Shiva (www.navdanya.com).
Actividades:
NTACH Belgium has set up the project of the Lost Gardens of Khajuraho (see www.intach.be). Before starting the actual restoration, an extensive oral survey amongst the local population has been carried out, revealing a wealth of local lore in the field of crafts, stories, cuisine, medicine. This knowledge is kept alive through training programs and educational workshops (in the local schools). Moreover, and more specifically, the search for old local varieties (adapted to the local - dry - growing conditions thanks to generations of seed selection) has brought to light local varieties of vegetables (onion/piyaz, red carrot/gajar, spinach/palak, rettich/muli, coriander/dhania, beans/sem, chili peppers/mirch, eggplant/bringal), fruits (papaya, mango, citrus) and grains (wheat/gehu, mustard/sarso, sesam/til). These varieties are produced by a network of some 75 farmers, and entered in our community seed bank, for the spread and use in the broader Khajuraho region.
Parallel, some studies have been made on the specific water harvesting system of Bundelkhand (with check dams, step wells and artificial lakes) and on the local rural architecture. The restoration of the buildings on the gardens is done strictly with traditional techniques and local labour. The farming in the project is also done strictly according to local tradition, and sometimes enhanced by similar traditions known through the Vedas. In 2010 we have published a book on "Conservation Agriculture" (in Dutch, English and Hindi) that has been promoted in India by INTACH, and in some regions of Africa and South-Amerika by Vredeseilanden/VECO.
In Belgium, a broader group of interested people is informed of these activities through our website (www.intach.be), including a facebook page, a 6 monthly newsletter, and regular activities (e.g. fundraising diner, presence on 4th pillar fairs, etc.).
Cooperación:
Although INTACH Belgium is the main sponsor of the project, almost immediately at the start a close collaboration has been established with the Navdanya movement (see www.navdanya.org) of Dr. Vandana Shiva. Navdanya means 'nine seed' and refers to the basic philosophy of seed autonomy as the basis for a healthy farm economy. The Navdanya movement counts more than 200.000 farmers who have made the shift from western chemo-agriculture towards sustainable traditional agriculture. In the project of the Lost Gardens a Navdanya specialist, Shri Swatantra Kumar Tiwari, leads the group of local farmers. He is assisted by the Flanders based biodynamic farmer Johan D'hulster (see www.akelei-schriek.be).
The project itself is inbedded (and monitored) in the larger framework of INTACH (see www.intach.org), the largest heritage driven NGO of India with more than 140 local chapters all over India.
The involvement of the local people is very important. We employ 9 farmers (families) on a daily base in the two restored gardens; additionally the schools are very collaborative in the educational workshops; and a broader community awareness is raised by the local INTACH chapter, and by the support of the local Chief Municipal Officer.

Fecha de creación: 1967
Ámbito(s):

- social practices, rituals and festive events

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement

Objetivos:
1. To represent falconry throughout the world. Falconry is the traditional sport of taking quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of trained birds of prey. It is a hunting art.
2. To preserve and encourage falconry within the context of sustainable use of wildlife.
3. To encourage conservation, the ecological and veterinary research on birds of prey and promote, under scientific guidance, domestic propagation for falconry.
4. To develop, maintain and amend national and international laws, treaties and conventions to permit the pursuit and perpetuation of falconry.
5. To require the observation of falconry, hunting, conservation and welfare laws, regulations, traditions and culture with regard to the taking, import, export and keeping of birds of prey, the taking of quarry species and the right of access to land in the country concerned.
6. To promote and uphold a positive public image of falconry with specialist organisation, which regulate or otherwise affect falconry.

Actividades:
The IAF is a non-profit international association, which represents 69 falconry Member Organizations from 48 nations whose total membership exceeds more than 30,000 individuals worldwide. Regarding active membership, which forms a community linked by the desire to pursue the objectives for which it was established, the IAF Officers, Advisory Committee, and Council of Delegates meet at its Annual General Meeting to discuss matters of the association.
Representatives of the IAF have been active as members of the board of directors, participants and supporters of the Archives of Falconry (USA) and the Falconry Heritage Trust (UK). Many representatives of the IAF made presentations on the cultural tradition and history of falconry in their respective nations at the international conference held on September 12-15, 2005 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for the proposal of falconry as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. In July 2007, the IAF, along with many of its Member Organizations, attended the Festival of Falconry, in Reading, England, which united and presented the heritage of falconry for UNESCO recognition for representatives and interested festival attendees. The IAF will attend another Festival Falconry to be held for the same purpose in 2009. In November 2006, the entire Council of Delegates visited the Archives of Falconry where the greatest collection of falconry heritage materials exists in a single location in the world. The collection includes paintings, books, documents, and other literature, artifacts, and also the Memorial Sing dedicated to the memory of the founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, which depicts the culture, tradition, and heritage of Bedu falconry in the Arabian Gulf.

Cooperación:
Over many years the IAF, through various representatives, has intervened to protect the practice, tradition, and heritage of falconry where it has existed for centuries. IAF representatives have met with falconers, local, regional, and national government authorities, and at the international level in the European Union. We have provided expert advice in law and regulation, cultural practices, and heritage history, conservation and biological information, where appropriate, in the following countries most recently: Belgium, China, Denmark, Estonia, Kazakhstan, PMalta, Morocco, Netherlands, Scotland, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE, and USA. Because many falconers of the world rely on birds of prey produced in captivity, we have intervened to encourage and support captive propagation throughout the world, including in Europe and North America. Similarly, where local falconers rely on raptors harvested from naturally occurring wild populations, the IAF has intervened to support wild harvest on the principle of sustainable use, as part of the nations' cultural and traditional practice of falconry.

Fecha de creación: 1997
Costo: U.S.$35000
Ámbito(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- social practices, rituals and festive events
- traditional craftsmanship
- other
- 'Lace in Flanders' also promotes lace making as contemporary textile art

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- revitalization
- other
- Cataloguing and conservation storage

Países principales de actividades:

Alemania, Bélgica, Países Bajos

Objetivos:
The non profit organisation “Lace in Flanders” (Kant in Vlaanderen) was founded in 1997 with the purpose of safeguarding the craft of needle and bobbin lace making and related techniques. The association has officially been acknowledged by the Flemish Government as a representative for lace and the craft of lace making and as such acts as its spokesperson.
"Lace in Flanders" is an organisation being led by highly motivated volunteers, mainly (but not exclusively) women, driven by a will to preserve this precious and historic tradition.
The Organization takes measures, through formal and informal education, to ensure the continuation and revitalisation of all aspects of lace and lace making, this includes identification, documentation, historical research, storage, preservation, conservation and promotion.
Needle and bobbin lace making, and various related techniques, are traditional crafts which have been passed on from generation to generation. The craft of lace making in Flanders has been constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, and their historical background, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.
‘Lace in Flanders’ is coordinating, optimising and stimulating many initiatives concerning the endangered intangible cultural heritage of needle- and bobbin lace making and the various related techniques. The organisation encompasses the academies, schools, centres, local organisations, and individuals interested in the traditional craft of lace making and its wide variety of aspects.
The organisation has competence to support the efforts which need to be made regarding the scientific studies of lacemaking and the improvement of the quality of the working techniques. It supports the academies, schools and associations promotes their activities at home and abroad.
“Lace in Flanders” organises exhibitions at home and abroad as well as lace contests for youth and adults for the promotion of lace as a creative skill. It organises workshops and lectures. Studies and research with respect to lace are supported and encouraged. Members and stakeholders are informed through the quarterly bulletin “FILUM”.
Actividades:
“Lace in Flanders” (Kant in Vlaanderen) treasures lace and lacemaking as an important intangible cultural heritage for Flanders, Europe and the World. The art of lacemaking is a valued craft with a long and important textile and social history. Starting simultaneously in Flanders and Italy in the early 16th C the craft has been passed down through the generations and has been, and still is constantly updated by designers and lacemakers . Despite industrialisation in the 19th Century this handcraft has spread throughout the world, and is still practised by thousands of lacemakers in many countries.
“Lace in Flanders” encourages and co-ordinates the study and the practice of all types of bobbin and needle lace, both traditional and contemporary. It stimulates contacts between lacemakers in Flanders and abroad in order to maintain and spread the old traditions, and to encourage contemporary creations.
According to its constitution “Lace in Flanders” aims to promote and co-ordinate the study, practice, and technical quality of bobbin and needle lace and related techniques, in both traditional and contemporary art creations.
Workgroups composed of highly motivated volunteers are active for the benefit of “Lace in Flanders”, its membership and stakeholders. To obtain its goals “Lace in Flanders” organises the following activities in both Flanders and abroad, covering a wide variety of topics concerning this valuable craft.
- History of lace and Lacemaking: “Lace in Flanders” maintains contacts with universities, research centres and lace experts in Flanders and abroad , aiming at extensive studies appertaining to lace history, and the spreading of the craft in various regions of the world. Reports of the research are published in a quarterly magazine ‘Filum’ which is sent to members.
The Organisation has a library, for the use of its members and researchers, with a large number of books and magazines relating to lace, lacemaking and other related topics.
- Education and Networking: “Lace in Flanders” is in contact with formal and non-formal educational establishments in order to revitalise the various aspects of the cultural heritage of lace. Lace Organisations are encouraged to provide courses and workshops for both adults and young people in order to spread the knowledge of the various and famous old Flemish lace techniques. Training programs in lace making techniques are organised for teachers, to guarantee the quality of the education provided.
Identification and conservation: many individuals, groups, churches and convents in Flanders own collections of valuable laces. “Lace in Flanders” is making a concerted effort to trace these collections, to support the owners with identification, cataloguing and providing information on storage, conservation and restoration.
- Contemporary Lace: Famous artists in contemporary lace are employed to lead workshops, courses and Lectures. Projects for contemporary lace design are provided to maximize the opportunity for international exchange and collaboration. Exhibitions of new creations are organised and have been staged not only in Belgium, but also in Barcelona, Spain; Kiskunhalas, Hungary; Minsk, Belarus; Vianen, The Netherlands and Cologne, Germany.
- Lace Museum: “Lace in Flanders” is managing its own Lace Museum in Sint-Truiden. The Museum was opened in 1970 in the historical building owned by the Ursaline Sisters. The Sisters have had a tradition of lace education for over a hundred years. In order to continue this tradition, and on request of the sisters “Lace in Flanders” provides lace education and workshops in this historical building. The museums display decorative lace pieces designed and executed by the sisters of the convent during the period of the revivs of lacemaking in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Communication: The journal ‘Filum’ is published four times a year containing many articles about the history of different types of lace and lace in other countries.
Cooperación:
“Lace in Flanders” has officially been acknowledged by the Flemisch Government as a representative organisation for the intangible cultural heritage of lace, lace making and related techniques.
Safeguarding programmes are the core business of the organisation. Therefore “Lace in Flanders” co-operates with museums (c), experts (b), national (a), and international (d) organisations.
a) “Lace in Flanders”” operates in close contact with FARO. Flemish interface centre for cultural heritag (FARO. Vlaams steunpunt voor cultureel erfgoed vzw).
“Lace in Flanders” participates in national events such as ‘Erfgoeddag’ (Heritage day)
“Lace in Flanders” collaborates with the education department of the Flemish Government in order to set up programs for lace making courses for teachers in formal and non formal education.
“Lace in Flanders” co-operates with church communities, convents and private collectors of lace and advises them about storage conservation and cataloguing.
“Lace in Flanders” organises demonstrations with practitioners in order to promote the intangible cultural heritage of lace. “Lace in Flanders” organises also seminars for lace schools, organisations, groups and individual practitioners of the craft.
Information and news-letters are sent to stakeholders by e-mail.
b)“Lace in Flanders” has close contacts with experts from lace, textile and fashion museums such as Musea Brugge; Bruges, Vlasmuseum, Kortrijk (Flax museum Courtrai), Lace and Costume Museum, Brussels; MOMU, Antwerp.
c) “Lace in Flanders” has set up projects with museums in Belgium:
- National Flax and Linen Museum
- International Lace Contest for adults: ‘Linum’ 2004
- International Lace Contest for youth : ‘In space’ 2007
- Brugge Museum
- Seminar : Lace History, Lace as inspiration for design
d) “Lace in Flanders” has also set up projects with similar organisations in European Countries:
- Generalitat de Catalunya: Lace exhibition with contemporary lace from artists in Flanders (exchange program with the University of Barcelona)
-“Lace in Flanders” is in contact the centre for needle lace making in Kiskunhallas, Hungary
- LOKK - National Lace Organisation in the Netherlands)
- Forum Alte Spitze - Germany (Forum for Vintage Laces)
- “Lace in Flanders” is in contact with the Catalan Association of Lace makers and aims at organising an exchange program between lace makers of both regions, Flanders and Catalunia.

Fecha de creación: 1992
Costo: U.S.$192059
Ámbito(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- social practices, rituals and festive events
- knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
- religious culture, culture of life, collectors culture

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- developing experimental safeguarding programmes that unite heritage communities with a shared interest in safeguarding a specific element, and exchanging the ideas and insights thus gained with other national and international (heritage) organizations

Países principales de actividades:

Bélgica

Objetivos:
Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw is a national organization for intangible heritage and ethnology in Flanders - Belgium. The organization aims to be a platform for the heritage community of volunteers dedicated to ethnology in Flanders. Volkskunde Vlaanderen is a partner to all active participants, organizations and people interested in etnology and folklore in Flanders. We function as an umbrella organization representing a number of thematic ethnology organizations and provincial societies of ethnology volunteers. The main interest of Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw is (the study of) everyday life of the past and present. Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw offers information and support on demand to local heritage organizations and individual heritage volunteers dedicated to ethnology.
The general aim of the organization is to contribute to the safeguarding of the intangible and tangible heritage in Flanders, and sustaining and transmitting this heritage to future generations:
- Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw supports volunteers and voluntary organizations
that are active in the field of ethnology. Volkskunde Vlaanderen stimulates the work carried out by the organizations by giving support and training, by informing them through publications, websites and newsletters, by facilitating the access to information, by organizing conferences and networking meetings, etc.
- Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw is an association that brings people together who value the
ethnology and heritage of Flanders. The exchange of ideas and information is a central point of departure.
- Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw aims to be an organization that works in a international perspective and that stimulates people to use culture as an instrument towards mutual understanding and respect.
Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw is a non profit organization. It has a general committee and a general assemblee. Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw is officially recognized by the Flemish Government and receives a annual budget of 200,000 euro. Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw has three full-time staff members.



Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw is a recognized national non-profit organisation for intangible heritage in Flanders and Brussels. Our main focus is on ethnology in Flanders and Brussels. Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw functions as an umbrella organization representing all societies of ethnology volunteers in Flanders and Brussels. The main interest of Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw is the everyday life of the past and the present, with constant attention for cultural diversity. Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw offers support to local heritage organizations and individual heritage volunteers dedicated to ethnology.



Actividades:
Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw carries out a wide range of activities:
- We offer support to heritage organizations and individual heritage volunteers dedicated to ethnology, f.e. when applying for funds or for a nomination for inscription on the Representative list of intangible heritage and the inventory of Flemish intangible heritage or with practical issues.
- With large-scale, multi-annual projects we try to raise the public awareness about the importance of (safeguarding) intangible heritage. Our most recent project ‘Hart voor volkscafés’ (‘Heart for historical pubs’) is about historical pubs, which are considered to be a characteristic element of the Flemish cultural heritage. Recently many historical pubs in Flanders and Brussels had to close their doors. Apart from their valuable historic interiors, these pubs also have an important intangible component, so we want to prevent that all these pubs disappear. In order to create public support for that idea, we launched the website www.volkscafés.be, a dynamic inventory based on user generated content. The project includes also the contemporary photo book ‘Volkscafés. Vrouwentongen en mannenpraat’, a touristic bicycle route and a viability study.
- Our other thematic websites are www.feestelijkvlaanderen.be (about festive culture) , www.volksverhalenbank.be (about oral culture) and www.vlaanderenverzamelt.be (about the culture of collectioning). These are low-treshold websites, where everyone is easily informed about specific aspects of our intangible heritage.
- On our general website www.volkskunde-vlaanderen.be we inform about such matters as international movements in the heritage sector, the national legislation on intangible heritage, our own activities, the activities of colleague organisations…
- Heritage education is another area we work on. By developing educative kits about ethnology and distributing free didactic letters, we want to stimulate the awareness for heritage of children.
- Twice a year we publish our own newspaper ‘De Gazet’, about a variety of things related to ethnology. 16.000 copies of De Gazet are distributed via public libraries, via the Cultural Departments of all the cities in Flanders and via colleague organisations. With this periodical we aim to inform as many people as possible about a wide range of topics related to ethnology and intangible heritage, in apleasant, but yet informative way.
- We organise colloquia and info sessions about (certain aspects of) ethnology for both professional heritage workers and volunteers dedicated to ethnology. The last colloquium we organised was on 1st april 2009 and it focussed on how folk stories and urban legends can be used as a means for cultural tourism.
- We participate in national initiatives about intangible heritage, such as the Heritage Day and the Week of Culinary Culture.
- Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw is present at cultural manifestations such as the Cultural Market in Antwerp and in Ghent or the National Day of Monuments. We do this for two reasons: it allows us to inform people about the activities of Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw as well as to recruit volunteers.
- We are an active participant in projects of collegue organizations lullabies, the tobacco industry, DNA and family history, managing local heritage collections and more.
- In all our activities we pay a lot of attention to cultural diversity.
Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw was founded by the 5 Flemish provincial organisations for ethnology. Each of them groups has a large number of volunteers. Together these volunteers form an important part of the constituency of Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw.
3 employees with a university degree in different study areas work fulltime at the Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw Secretariat: one coordinator, one consulent and one junior associate who works specifically on the project about the historical pubs. Each of the employees had working experience in a heritage organization before joining Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw. For the daily activities all 3 of them have often contact with staff members of colleague organisations, thus forming an extended network in the Flemish heritage sector. Trough working on specific projects the Secretariat is gaining profound expertise on specific topics in the field of ethnology. The secretariat can also rely on a large number of volunteers and each year there is an academic internship.
Cooperación:
Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw is a representative non-profit member-for-member society for ethnology in Flanders and is the umbrella society representing all societies of ethnology volunteers in Flanders. The cooperation with and among these heritage volunteers forms the essence of the organization. Networking with these volunteers is considered as a enriching for all parties.

Fecha de creación: 1990
Ámbito(s):

- social practices, rituals and festive events
- knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
- other
- savoir-faire et pratiques liés à l'industrie

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- revitalization

Países principales de actividades:

Bélgica

Objetivos:
L’association (statuts au point 8.b) a pour objet la culture scientifique, technique et industrielle et le patrimoine qui y est associé, dans le domaine de la métallurgie, mais aussi dans celui des énergies (moulins, machines à vapeur, moteurs à gaz et pétrole, électricité) et de l’informatique. Les collections sont présentées en permanence au public dans un musée proposant 10 salles s’étendant sur environ 2.500 m².
Ses principaux objectifs sont la recherche, la conservation, l’exploitation et la valorisation du patrimoine, la diffusion des connaissances technologiques et la stimulation d’échanges et de rencontres.
Le musée œuvre à la sauvegarde, à la préservation, à l’étude et à la transmission du patrimoine culturel immatériel, notamment les témoignages de travailleurs de l’industrie lourde. Ces récits de vie sont inscrits à l’inventaire des collections et font l’objet d’un traitement scientifique comparable à celui qui est réservé au patrimoine mobilier (machines, outils, objets manufacturés, documents iconographiques et archivistiques). Ils sont systématiquement intégrés dans les activités de valorisation du patrimoine : expositions, publications, animations. Leur présentation met en évidence l’interdépendance entre ce patrimoine immatériel, le patrimoine mobilier exposé et le patrimoine immobilier (usines, bâtiments, infrastructures) qui marque le paysage de la région.
En ce moment de démantèlement de la sidérurgie à chaud du « Pays de Liège », la Maison de la Métallurgie et de l’Industrie de Liège est un maillon essentiel pour la sauvegarde de la mémoire de la communauté des travailleurs métallurgistes de sa région.

Actividades:
L’équipe scientifique de la Maison de la Métallurgie et de l’Industrie de Liège a fait de la sauvegarde et de la transmission de ce patrimoine culturel immatériel une priorité. Une salle permanente du musée a été consacrée à la présentation de l’exposition « Les Métallos », portraits de sidérurgistes réalisés dans les usines par le photographe Thierry Dricot, qui en avait aussi recueilli les témoignages (2008). L’exposition « Traditions au Présent. Regards croisés Wallonie-Québec sur le patrimoine immatériel », produite par le Séminaire de Muséologie de l’Université de Liège a été présentée afin de sensibiliser le public régional à l’importance et aux enjeux du patrimoine culturel immatériel (2008). Afin de systématiser la sauvegarde du patrimoine immatériel métallurgique en péril, un programme pluriannuel d’enquêtes ethnographiques (2014-2017) est mené en coopération avec le Musée de la Vie wallonne (Liège, Belgique) et le service de Muséologie de l’Université de Liège (Marie-Aline Angillis y mène une recherche doctorale sur la muséalisation du patrimoine immatériel).
Des expositions temporaires et des publications ont été produites, afin de valoriser et d’assurer la transmission de ce patrimoine culturel immatériel, avec une attention particulière pour les jeunes générations.
L’exposition « De Fonte et d’Acier : histoires vécues » (2010- 2011) comparait les traditions lorraine et wallonne et, instaurant un dialogue entre matériel et immatériel, proposait une réflexion sur la valeur immatérielle des objets et sur la patrimonialisation de la mémoire. Le livre d’Armando Frassi, photographe amateur (FRASSI Armando, De Fonte et d’Acier au Pays liégeois, coll. « Sidérurgie patrimoine », Gérard Klopp, Luxembourg, 2010) alterne récits de vie et photographies.
L’exposition « Vies de Zinc. Portraits de travailleurs, images d’entreprise » (2012 - 2013), prochainement présentée au Canada (Société d’Histoire du Lac Saint-Jean, Québec), valorise notamment les témoignages de cinq anciens travailleurs de fours à zinc, technologie particulièrement pénible née à Liège au début du 19ème siècle et disparue dans les années 1970. Des extraits sont publiés dans l’ouvrage qui approfondit le propos (RUESS Céline et STELMES Anne, Vies de zinc. Portraits de travailleurs, images d’entreprises, Maison de la Métallurgie et de l’Industrie de Liège, Liège, 2012, p.65-69). En 2016, une exposition sera réalisée en collaboration avec l’artiste française Isabelle Bonté, qui créera une œuvre d’art (sculpture numérique) à partir d’une collecte de témoignages de sidérurgistes menée conjointement avec le musée.
L’originalité de la démarche de la Maison de la Métallurgie et de l’Industrie de Liège réside dans sa thématique industrielle et dans son approche muséologique. L’institution, reconnue par les autorités publiques comme musée de catégorie B, applique la même chaîne opératoire pour les témoignages récoltés que pour le patrimoine mobilier (acquisition, inventaire, conservation, étude et valorisation). Elle contribue ainsi à la préservation du patrimoine immatériel de la communauté des métallurgistes de la région et à la valorisation de ses traces, qu’elle partage avec le public.

Cooperación:
Patrimoine culturel immatériel menacé dans la région liégeoise, la communauté des métallurgistes trouve en la Maison de la Métallurgie et de l’Industrie de Liège une interface avec le public, local ou extérieur. Les principales entreprises métallurgiques de la région, aujourd’hui multinationales, sont membres de l’association (ArcelorMittal Belgium, Umicore, CMI) et le musée a constitué un réseau de personnes de contacts qui facilitent l’approche de travailleurs correspondant aux critères des recherches

Fecha de creación: 1975
Ámbito(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- social practices, rituals and festive events
- traditional craftsmanship

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education

Países principales de actividades:

Bélgica

Objetivos:
Le Musée international du carnaval et du masque à Binche a été créé dans le but de présenter des collections de masques, accessoires et costumes, limitées au départ au folklore local, et très vite étendue aux traditions masquées mondiales, dans le but d'approfondir les connaissances sur les origines et les rôles fondamentaux des traditions masquées. La collecte et la conservation des pièces, de même que leur étude scientifique, leur présentation et leur diffusion auprès du public sont les objectifs principaux du musée, qui à travers ces activités, participe à mettre en valeur et approfondir les connaissances du patrimoine immatériel de l'humanité.
Actividades:
Les activités du musée sont centrées autour de l'acquisition, la recherche, la conservation et la présentation au public des pièces de collection.
Cooperación:
La politique d'achat du musée s'accompagne généralement de visites et recherches de terrain, ainsi que d'entretiens et de témoignages oraux, effectues par l'équipe du musée ou par l'intermédiaire d'un chercheur. Dans les deux cas, l’esprit de respect mutuel est prédominant avec les communautés, les groupes et les individus qui sont à l'origine de la production des traditions masquées étudiées. Le fondateur et premier directeur du musée, Samuei Glotz, ainsi que les deux directeurs qui lui ont succédé (Michel Revelard et Christel Deliege, actuelle directrice), ont toujours été des membres très actifs de la Commission pour le Patrimoine Oral et immatériel auprès de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles influant sur une politique d'acquisition respectueuse des communautés concernées.

L'accord des populations organisant les festivités masquées est toujours demande quant à l’entrée de leur patrimoine au musée. On peut citer notamment l'exemple des lndiens Ticuna (Amazonie, Brésil). C'est un chercheur indépendant Daniel Devos qui, connaissant des indiens Ticuna depuis 1984. fut l'intermédiaire avec le Musée. Pour preuve des relations établies avec le musée par l'intermédiaire de Monsieur Devos. Pedro. !e chef du village des Ticuna, confia au musée une série d'objets ainsi qu'un courrier pour que le musée les expose avec leur accord.

Fecha de creación: 2003
Ámbito(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- performing arts
- social practices, rituals and festive events
- traditional craftsmanship

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- Project initiatives involving the community and civil society, networking and sharing expertise

Países principales de actividades:

Bélgica, Sudáfrica

Objetivos:
Tapis plein NGO as an organisation inspires and realizes vivid projects concerning cultural heritage and a contemporary approach of our collective intangible heritage. It aims to interact strongly with people in its projects, going to schools, youth centres, diving into the city life or the neighbourhood. Heritage education, diversity and public sensitisation are the most important dimensions in our mission. Tapis plein NGO always tries to realize projects in a young, experimental and graphical attractive way so to function as an eye-opener for people who usually aren't involved into heritage themes.

As an acknowledged and subsidied organisation bij the Flemish Government, tapis plein NGO invest its expertise in networks in the professional heritage field as well as spreading heritage methodology in the civil society.
Actividades:
Tapis plein NGO every year realizes laboratory/experimental heritage projects in which civil particpation in heritage themes is the central goal. The focus or theme of these initiatives is always depending on the specific context (partnerships, locality, ... ) and on new challenges in the heritage field or society. Tapis plein this way realised during the 7 past years diverse neigbourhood projects, oral tradition projects, as well as wide travelling workshops and exhibitions UN-TOUCHABLE (2005-2007; on the theme of the UNESCO convention of ICH) and 'Never Enough' (2007-2009; on the phenomenon of collecting as a democratic heritage practice done by thousands of people in Flanders and about). In 2009-2010 our biggest project is Quartier Bricole, an ambitious project setting up shops, workshops, exhibitions, markets, ... all on the theme of 'rooted design' or: contemporary craftmanship with roots in traditional techniques, knowledge and forms.

In 2010 tapis plein vzw is also an active partner in the UNESCO project with FARO and Documentary Arts starting from the photographical and documentary work of Alan Govenar "Visibility, awareness and dialogue", whch was exposured in the UNESCO 'salle des pas perdus' in april 2010. For the Flemishg part of this project tapis plein NGO will be working with lots of partner organizations from Belgium and from Central-Europe (Croatia, Tsjechia) realizing masterclasses, public events, exhibition, etc.

The personnel of tapis plein are masters in art history, ethnography and graphism, and all have educational training above.

Next to the specific projects, tapis plein NGO travels around Flanders in its role as expert center for methodology on active and civic participation, helping and inspiring lots of museums, archives, local policies and more, to make up heritage practices that are participatory and enhancing democratic and community engagement of/for heritage.
Cooperación:
As described above (6), this makes up the very heart of the work of tapis plein NGO. We are in every project and every process of sharing experiences, driven by the principle that heritage is and should be a mirror of our diverse contemporary society and we are always looking for ways in which this spirit of mutual respect and diversity can be encorporated, enhanced and be shared in public initiative.

Fecha de creación: 1958
Ámbito(s):

- oral traditions and expressions
- performing arts
- social practices, rituals and festive events
- knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
- traditional craftsmanship

Medidas de salvaguardia:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education

Países principales de actividades:

Bélgica

Objetivos:
The Domain Bokrijk houses a large open air museum. Bokrijk is the museum in Flanders where in a 1-to-1 scale peasant houses from all over Flanders in open air are shown, preserved and studied. Through its unique collection of buildings, objects, churches, chapels, interiors, tools, its knowledge about crafts, rituals and practices in daily life and historical fauna and flora the museum wants visitors to experience what it could have meant to live in the countryside in what is now called Flanders. Through interactive means and media (theatre, music, word, images) and in an appealing and understandable language the museum aims to confront people living in the 21st Century with the way in which a former rural society - its people, dwellings, and daily practices - has gradually changed by showing them the cradle of the present. Moreover the museum wants to tease and wonder a culturally diverse public, to have them rethinking their own lives and memories and to make them sensible about the relativity of past, present and future. The museum aims to keep and upgrade the innovative methods it works with to achieve this mission for a socially and culturally diverse public.

In short, the Domain Bokrijk including the Open Air Museum Bokrijk aims a culturally and socially diverse public to appreciate, enjoy and understand the cultural (both tangible and intangible) and natural heritage since 1500 on the countryside in what is now called Flanders by collecting, preserving, protecting, researching and valorising aspects from the culture of daily life.
Actividades:
The Domain and the museum has over the years, from its opening in 1958, created a substantial pool of knowledge on local building traditions, materials, techniques, crafts, tools, rituals and building and crafting practices in Flanders. This knowledge has been tested and proven in daily practice in the museum. There are three groups of personnel that are actively involved in these forms of intangible cultural heritage: Marc Jansen and Kristien Ceyssens, respectively head and architect to the technical department; Jef Brebels, Johny Lowet, Raoul Putzeys amongst others, respectively carpenter and wagon maker, thatcher, cooper and allround restoration worker; Raf Schepers, head of collections, and Hilde Schoefs, curator, who research the history of crafts and craftsmanship and the rituals and practices concerned.

The museum participates since several years in the work of the Interface Centre for Living Heritage (www.sle.be). In concreto this means the museum and domain of Bokrijk help preserving rare breeds of local historical livestock as sheep, cows, pigs, horses, goats, turkeys, …by breeding new genetic offspring. The person responsible for this program is Frank Libens, head of fauna to the technical department since 1996.

The Domain and the museum organised in 2010 the 29th edition of its Dialect- and Street Theatre Festival. Frank De Roeck, cultural worker and musician, is responsible for this programme. On Whit Monday a selection of traditional forms of street theatre are performed in their respective dialects by local groups from all over Flanders. Together with quality music groups, that bring a historical repertoire on replica’s of historical music instruments and in confrontation with more recent artistic performances these traditional performances are given a stage to present their work to a large, and socially and culturally diverse public. It is every year more difficult to attract quality performances rooted in traditional practices as these performances are partly looked upon as old fashioned and out of time. The museum considers it to be its role to safeguard these performances by giving them an annual stage.

The Domain and museum is known for its original and replica installations of historical games and play as for example archery, playing skittles, curling, 'struifvogelen', 'bikkelen', ... and for its array of regional and historical parlour games. Visitors can not only try for free parlour games and sports, they can also take the challenge to compete in teams in some of these historical games guided by a trained museum guide.The person responsible for installing this diverse programme in the museum during the last decade is Bea Vaes, head of the educational cell, who previously won her spurs working for what is now Sportimonium, the museum of sports and games (www.sportimonium.be).

Luc Frenken, historian, is responsible for the 1st person living history in the Haspengouw part of the museum. He researches food, clothes, habits, micro and macro history and brings this together in daily performances.

In 2009 the museum started together with FARO. The interface centre for cultural heritage in Flanders and other local organisations in Flanders in partnership with Alan Govenar (Documentary Arts inc, Dallas) an exhibition called 'Treasures in/from People', which will travel around Flanders in 2010-2011 accompanied by public activities (see below). It opened in the UNESCO headquarters in Paris April 2010. In the exhibition we try to translate the meaning of the concepts 'intangible heritage' and 'living human treasures' as defined by UNESCO in the 2003 Convention to the visitors. Americans from the National Heritage Fellowship are portrayed next to Flemish people who are passionate about their knowledge, practice or skill.
The kick-off of the above mentioned exhibition and tour is on July 18th 2010 when the museum organises the first edition of 'Passion & Tradition. Living human treasures in Flanders'. This day the visitors can watch demonstrations, performances, skills, … from passionate and skilled people concerning intangible heritage all over the museum. People can not only watch, but are actively invited to ask questions, to give it a try themselves in free workshops, to discuss the Convention in a debate, … A special link is made to the USA, as guest country.

On July 19th 2010 the museum organises together with FARO an international colloquium titled ‘Visibility, Awareness, Dialogue. Learning from elsewhere: the USA’. Guest speakers that day are Barrey Bergey (director of Folk and Traditional Arts, National Endowment for the Arts), Peggy Bulger (director of the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress) and Alan Govenar.

Hilde Schoefs, curator, who previously worked for FARO as researcher and member of staff responsible for oral and intangible heritage, has taken the lead for these interconnected initiatives.
Cooperación:
The Domain and Open Air Museum of Bokrijk has a longstanding tradition of collecting, sharing, preserving and staging intangible heritage with and by both communities and individual practitioners.

The museum started in 2008 'Learning from the Past' where skilled craftsmen teach their skills and their knowledge on wagonry making, cooping and thatching amongst others in a one to one learning trajectory with a pupil. This form of life long adult learning is supervised by the Personnel Department of the Province of Limburg.

The museum shares its diverse knowledge on intangible cultural heritage forms and practices actively within a broader community of open air museums (AEOM, www.aeom.org), that meets yearly. Next to these official meetings the museum holds close contacts with several open air and other museums, to share knowledge, as for example in 2009 with the Open Air Museum of Arnhem, het Huis van Alijn, Sportimonium, and the Open Air Museum Kommern. In 2010 the museum was host to two delegates from the Norwegian Ministry of Culture making a study on the ratification of the Convention and the manner in which different countries, ministries and cultural heritage organisations try to implement it and translate it to the public.

As stated below 6c the museum offers yearly on Whit Monday a stage to performing groups of street theatre from all over Flanders. This is the only occasion where street theatre performances from different regions and different sorts are shown together.

Also mentioned below 6c is the first edition of the museum festival 'Passion & Tradition. Living human treasures in Flanders'. This day the visitors can watch demonstrations, performances, skills, … from passionate and skilled people concerning intangible heritage all over the museum. Individuals and groups that will share their expertise that day are amongst others Frank Degruyter (expert narrator), Guy Vandecasteele (expert puppet making), Magda Vaes (expert in breast feeding advice), the ladies from Kant in Vlaanderen (lace making), the Steltlopers van Merchtem, the ‘krulbollers’.