Intangible Warsaw

On the 20th anniversary of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage together with the Intangible Cultural Heritage Board of Warsaw, we invite you to an international conference and workshop dedicated to this issue.

Conference will take place on 16-17th October 2023 in the Praga Museum of Warsaw, Targowa Street no. 50/52, 03-733 Warsaw

INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Poland ratified the Convention in 2011, beginning the process of identification and inventorying of the phenomena of intangible cultural heritage and the popularization of the concept itself in the Polish context. The introduction of the new term “intangible cultural heritage” into the Polish language has changed the framework of the very notion of “heritage,” hitherto perceived primarily through the prism of monuments, and directed attention to it’s social context – traditions, practices and customs that build a sense of identity and continuity of specific communities, groups and individuals.

The National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, in operation since 2013, today (September 2023) includes 85 inscriptions. Only some of them are associated with large cities (Krakow, Poznan), some also relate to smaller urban centers (Cieszyn, Lowicz). The overwhelming number, however, are associated with traditions embedded in rural context and folklore. This gap encouraged us to search for what is essential to the identity of urban communities, including the capital of Poland – Warsaw.

1st DAY OF CONFERENCE

During the conference, therefore, we want to look primarily at the urban contexts of phenomena that meet the criteria of the definition of “intangible cultural heritage” and to the various communities that co-create cities passsing on from generation to generation urban traditions, customs and practices: in Poland and around the world.

On the first day of the conference, we will benefit from international experiences, analyzing with invited foreign guests examples of the activities of municipalities and municipal museum institutions from Belgium, Italy, Finland, Greece, Turkey and Poland.

Simultaneous translation (Polish – English, English – Polish) will be provided on this day.

PROGRAMME

10:00-10:30 – registration and coffee

10:30-10:45 – opening of the conference

10:30-10:45 – welcome and opening of the conference – Artur Jóźwik, Director of the Culture Department of the Capital City of Warsaw and Karolina Ziębińska-Lewandowska, Director of the Museum of Warsaw

Representative of the Polish National Commission for UNESCO Michał Kleiber / Alicja Jagielska-Burduk

Mayor of the city Rafał Trzaskowski / Vice Mayor Aldona Machnowska-Góra

10:45-13:00 – I PANEL: Intangible Heritage in the Activities of Municipal Governments

Moderation: Hanna Schreiber

Antwerp (Belgium): Sofie de Ruysser, Cultural Heritage Consultant of the City of Antwerp
Bursa (Turkey): Dilek Yıldız Karakaş, Bursa City Museums Coordinator
Verona (Italy): Marta Ugolini, Counselor for Culture, Tourism and UNESCO of the City of Verona, Valentina Lapiccirella Zingari, UNESCO ICH Facilitator – scientific coordination Tocatì Programme
Warsaw (Poland): Artur Jóźwik, Director of the Culture Department of the Capital City of Warsaw, where the Warsaw Intangible Cultural Heritage Team has been operating since 2020

Speakers bio: download .PDF download .DOC

13:00-14:00 – Lunch break

14:00-16:30 – II PANEL: Intangible Heritage in the Activities of City Museums

Moderation: Karolina Ziębińska-Lewandowska

Athens (Greece): Vasiliki Polyzoi, Deputy Director of the Museum of Greek Folk Instruments
Ghent (Belgium): Sam De Schutter, curator Huis van Alijn
Varkaus (Finland): Hanna-Kaisa Melaranta, Director of the Varkaus Museum
Warsaw (Poland): Katarzyna Kuzko-Zwierz, Manager of the Praga Museum of Warsaw, a branch of the Museum of Warsaw

17:00-18:00 – Dinner

18:00-19:00 – Concert of Warszawskie Combo Taneczne

Speakers bios: download .PDF download .DOC

2nd DAY OF CONFERENCE

The second day will provide an opportunity to present projects carried out on the Polish ground, in various Polish cities, and to work in smaller teams on recommendations for actions in the field of intangible heritage in urban context and to analyze the initiatives undertaken in the field of its safeguarding, education and promotion.

Due to the fact that team work will be held in Polish for our guests from abroad we have planned a guided tour around the city spots related to intangible cultural heritage and a visit to the Museum of Warsaw.

10:00-12:00 – Warsaw sightseeing

13:00-14:00 – Lunch

14:00-15:30 – Visit in the Praga Museum of Warsaw

Please fill in the participation form, which contains a consent to the use of the image registered during the conference and information about the diet, which will allow us to order appropriate meals: forms.office.com

The “Intangible Warsaw” conference is held under the honorary patronage of the Polish National Commission for UNESCO and is an official event organised on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage worldwide.