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Heritage Matters
Culture Masters, Inc. Held Its First Advisory Board Meeting
Culture Masters, Inc. held its first International Advisory Board Meeting on April 27 at which several important decisions were made. Alisher Ikramov was unanimously nominated as the first Advisory Board Chairperson. Additionally, the Board recommended Jeon Je Seon and Song Ji Hyun as the first Gugak Masters by Culture Masters. This is our first step in promoting the status of cultural artisans and communities.
The Gugak Masters Designation project is aimed at supporting cultural and artistic activities and the growth of global cultural artists. Candidates who excel in skill and mastery, creativity and innovation, and education and mentorship are selected for the designation. Jeon Je Seon and Song Ji Hyun have been selected as Gugak Masters based on their artistic talents and experience.
Jeon Je Seon is a senior artist of the Jeongseon Arirang Art Troupe and has won numerous awards for his performances. He trains young practitioners in the gugak field and has innovatively developed traditional culture and creative storytelling based on Jeongseon Arirang.
Song Ji Hyun has more than twenty years of artistic experience promoting and developing Korean music domestically and internationally. She has incorporated various Western instruments into traditional Korean music to transform it into a new kind of Gugak Jazz.
CEO Song-Yong Park expressed his gratitude to all attendees for their valuable contributions and participation in the meeting. Information about the Board is available on Culture Masters’ website (http://culturemasters.org/about-us/#iab).
The next International Advisory Board is scheduled for October 25, 2023.
2023 World Tea Culture Industry Conference
The World Tea Culture Industry Conference took place on 13 and 14 May 2023 at the Changwon Convention Center in Changwon City, South Gyeongsang Province, Republic of Korea. Additional events were held on 15 and 16 May at Hadong Ssanggyesa Temple.
Culture Masters, Inc. cooperated with several organizations to help ensure that the meeting was a success. The staff and leadership of the following bodies helped make the event possible:
- Korean Tea Culture Association (Host)
- World Tea Culture Industry Conference Organizing Committee (Organizer)
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;·Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs;·Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Rural Development Administration; and South Gyeongsang Province, and Changwon Special City (Sponsors)
- Seven City Korea (Operations)
- Dong-A Ilbo LG Hellovision (Media)
Representatives from Australia, China, Japan, India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Vietnam presented in person or via video. For the first day, representatives focused on tea culture as an industry, focusing mostly on its current state and development strategies for the future. On the second day, the focus shifted more toward tea as an intangible cultural asset, and the speakers talked more about tea in relation to cultural events and rituals, especially with a concentration on some of the social aspects surrounding tea as a cultural element. Download the rapporteur notes.
Although the combination of industry and culture may initially seem unconventional, this unifying theme lays the foundation for developing a multinational nomination file to register tea culture on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. As a culmination of the conference, the Changwon Declaration on Promoting World Tea Culture was signed by five key figures: Seong-Bae Ko (Korea Tea Culture Association), Alisher Ikramov (International Institute of Central Asian Studies), Seong-Yong Park (Culture Masters, Inc.), Eok-Kung Kim (International E-Sports Committee), and Nguyen Duc Tang (Center for Research and Promotion of Cultural Heritage). The declaration outlines the relationship of tea to communities as well as tea’s influence on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which are essential foundations in building a nomination dossier for UNESCO. Download the full text of the declaration.
A special session in the morning of the second day. The discussion primarily revolved around the importance of tea as a cultural element that can promote cultural tourism. In particular was the talk about possibly co-producing a Chinese-Korean drama based on the love story of King Gongmin and Princess Noguk during the thriving era of tea culture in Goryeo dynasty.
UNESCO New Delhi Hosts National Brainstorming Session on Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries: Highlights and Recommendations
UNESCO New Delhi recently organized a national-level brainstorming session on Priority 3 of the G20 Culture Working Group, focusing on the promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) and Creative Economy. The session aimed to propose recommendations for the G20 Working Group. Various experts and participants shared insights and concerns regarding metrics, policy interventions, institutional support, knowledge exchange, and more. The session’s outcomes will be compiled into a report and shared with contributors.
Workshop on: Maintaining the Balance: Heritage Preservation and Sustainable Tourism in Rural and Remote areas A case study of the Cyprus heartland | 26-30 June 2023
The workshop on “Maintaining the Balance: Heritage Preservation and Sustainable Tourism in Rural and Remote Areas” will be held from 26th to 30th June 2023 in the heartland of Cyprus. The workshop is funded and organized by UNITWIN/UNESCO, with co-organization from the heartland of Cyprus.
The heartland of Cyprus, specifically the Troodos Mountain Range, holds significant geological, cultural, and historical importance. It is home to the Troodos World Geopark, which combines geological heritage with cultural and historical sites. The region boasts ancient ruins, traditional villages, religious sites, and Byzantine churches that are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The workshop aims to address the challenges of balancing heritage preservation and sustainable tourism in rural and remote areas, focusing on the case study of the Cyprus heartland. It aims to analyze the current state of heritage tourism development in the region, identify opportunities and challenges for sustainable tourism, and share best practices from around the world. The workshop also aims to raise awareness among stakeholders about the importance of sustainable heritage tourism and develop an action plan for promoting sustainable tourism in the heartland of Cyprus.
Expected outcomes of the workshop include film production, publication of working papers, a presentation day/symposium, and the development of an action plan with concrete steps and timelines. The workshop will bring together 30 experts, including local government officials, community groups, environmental organizations, tourism practitioners, and academics. Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism will be cohosting the workshop.
The workshop will commence in Limassol with presentations and meetings with key stakeholders, followed by a visit to the Troodos Mountains. Participants will explore painted churches, engage in workshops on Byzantine hagiography and dry stone walling, visit museums and wineries, and have opportunities for outdoor activities. The workshop will conclude with a presentation of the results and a round table discussion with the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism and other key stakeholders.
Prof Dr Amareswar Galla will be attending the workshop as part of the UNESCO-UNITWIN Network member.
Additional Documentation
Heritage Matters Webinar 26 | Woodfordia: Ecomuseology, Design & Cultural Landscapes
Title – Woodfordia: Ecomuseology, Design & Cultural Landscapes
Date – 5th June 2023, Monday
Time – 1130-1300 Indian Standard Time (11:30 AM – 01:00 PM)
Recording Link – Click Here
The transformation of the international cultural landscapes requires re-envisioning new paradigms that consolidate all elements of the natural/cultural; moveable/immovable; tangible and intangible. Beyond binaries and borders it is One Health and One Environment – building on the four pillars of cultural, economic, social and environmental sustainability and SDGs to address the climate crisis. Two things are of urgent necessity. Harmonisation of International Hard Law and Soft Law instruments – treaties, conventions, charters, declarations and recommendations. We also need demonstration projects at the local level through active citizenship such as Woodfordia (woodfordfolkfestival.com/) building on living cultures and living traditions in the total environment. In this Webinar, we interrogate the making of Woodfordia as an integrated and holistic landscape, a microcosm of Australia and beyond.
Guest – Mr. William Hauritz AM, Founding Director of Woodfordia and Woodford Folk Festival, and a designated Queensland Great in Australia (Bio – Bill Hauritz).
Host – Professor Dr. Amareswar Galla, UNESCO Chair on Inclusive Museums and Sustainable Heritage Development at Anant National University, Ahmedabad. He also holds the position of Emeritus Faculty at the Australian National University, Canberra, and serves as the Chairperson of the International Research Network on the Inclusive Museum (onmuseums.com).
Heritage Matters Webinar 24 | Safeguarding Textile Heritage | 6 October 2022 | 7:30-9:00 PM IST
Title – Safeguarding Textile Heritage
Date – Thursday, 6th October 2022
Time – 7:30 – 9:00 PM Indian Standard Time
Recording Link – Click Here
Layers of significance inform the rich diversity of textiles. It is critical to tease out, understand, assess and contextualise the associated values to safeguard them. Textiles are as fluid as the looms on which there were/are woven. What are the significant pathways in conserving them? How do we collect and establish a representative list as we endeavour to facilitate intergenerational transmission of textile knowledge? How can we associate the folk life and design of textiles bridging the gulf between the tangible and intangible? In what ways can the continuity of textile heritage inform contemporary fashion? Is fashion a means for safeguarding the intangible heritage of textiles? These and many other questions will be addressed in the Heritage Matters Webinar 24.
Context: COVID 19 has opened up opportunities to: address inequities in the system to embed sustainable in SDGs/BLM; transform education and workplaces to rebuild the way we do things; rethink leadership as transformative, inclusive and collaborative; scope with immediacy new approaches to climate crisis; and address culture as an integral part of UN Agenda 2030.
Guest Panel: Ms Julia Brennan, Founding President, Caring for Textiles, Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation and Historic and Artistic Works (AIC), and a Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation (IIC). Dr Skye Morrison, Canadian educator, researcher and designer in traditional crafts including collaborative design and folk life. Ms Risha Roy, Faculty and Lead | Sustainable Fashion and Textile Design, Anant National University, Ahmedabad, India
Host: Professor Dr Amareswar Galla, UNESCO Chair on Inclusive Museums and Sustainable Heritage Development, AnantU, Ahmedabad; Emeritus Faculty at the Australian National University, Canberra; and Chairperson, International Research Network on the Inclusive Museum. (https://onmuseums.com)
Heritage Matters Webinar 23 | Immersive Learning and Cultural Action | 29 June 2022 | 3:30-5:00 PM
Seventh International Conference on Tourism & Leisure Studies | Responsible Post Pandemic Tourism: Built Environment and Design Excellence | 27-28 June 2022
SPECIAL FOCUS | THEMES & TENSIONS | SCOPE & CONCERNS | PROGRAM
2022 Special Focus—Responsible Post Pandemic Tourism: Built Environment & Design Excellence
The pandemic has become an opportunity to stop, reflect and rethink what tourism and the leisure spectrum will be all about in the future. The paradigm shifts call for diversifying visitor experiences, considering sustainable alternatives, and moving from “mass tourism” and “over-tourism” to a “distributed tourism” that benefits a network of local community groups in both the formal and informal sectors. In this future, what kind of built environment/s do we envisage? As “designing” is a ubiquitous process that offers the vehicle to improve lives and experiences, what variety of design options and challenges do we consider? These, and many other questions, will be raised in the heart of the two-thousand-year-old spice trade – Muziris, Kerala. And of particular focus, based on this local context, the role of creativity, festivals, and biennales, in facilitating the “design” of transformations will be interrogated. It will be a shared dialogue and discourse through critical research and case studies between the Global South and North addressing all the 17 SDGs, with only eight years of the UN 2030 Agenda left!
Register Here to attend the conference. Click on below icons for day wise schedule.
Vadnagar International Conference for Promoting Archaeological Heritage & Culture | 18-20 May 2022
This year, India is celebrating the 75 years of Independence as ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and as a part of this Government of Gujarat in association with Ministry of Culture, Government of India organised Vadnagar International Conference for Promoting Archaeological Heritage & Culture. The conference was also supported by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It was organized from May 18th to 20th, 2022 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Notable knowledge experts from India and across the globe participated in the conference as speakers. The conference served as a platform to share and exchange new ideas and learnings from across the world. UNESCO being the event partner of the conference and Anant National University as University partner. The sessions of the conference have been decided in a view to promote Archaeological Heritage and Culture of Vadnagar.
Prof Amareswar Galla was a keynote speaker at the conference.
Click Here to know more about the conference.
Heritage Matters Webinar 22 | Museums and Indigenous Peoples | 19 February 2022 | 7:30-9:00 PM
Topic: Museums and Indigenous Peoples
Date: Saturday, 19th February 2022
Time: 7:30-9:00 PM Indian Standard Time
Recording Link: Click Here
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday 13 September 2007. The Declaration is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, over 6% of the world’s population. It establishes the universal framework of minimum standards for the dignity and well-being of Indigenous Peoples. It was drafted by Indigenous Peoples from across the world. ICOM Code of Ethics & ICOM Cultural Diversity Charter; and UNESCO 2015 Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections progress the UNDRIP Declaration (https://onmuseums.com/about/
Guest: W. Richard West Jr., An eminent lawyer who is the Founding Director Emeritus of the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC; and immediate Past President of the Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles.
Host: Professor Dr Amareswar Galla, UNESCO Chair on Inclusive Museums and Sustainable Heritage Development, AnantU, Ahmedabad; Emeritus Faculty at the Australian National University, Canberra; and Chairperson, International Research Network Conference on the Inclusive Museum, Philadelphia, 2022. (https://onmuseums.com)
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2023 Jeonju International Awards for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage (JIAPICH) | South Korea
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World Anthropology Congress Closes with Focus on Tribal Empowerment, Education, and Cultural Preservation
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UNESCO Chair Advocates Empowering Indigenous Communities Through Anthropology at World Anthropology Congress | 14 August 2023