Main areas of work related to the Convention:
The Intangible Heritage Association in Saudi Arabia conducts a variety of activities aimed at safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, focusing on promoting awareness, preserving traditional practices, and documenting them for transmission to future generations. Recently, the association has implemented several projects and initiatives that demonstrate its capacity to provide effective and supportive consulting services.
The association also launched a national program to document folk tales, proverbs, and local customs using the latest digital technologies and organized workshops for young people to raise their awareness of the importance of this heritage. It also worked on a documentation project focused on traditional irrigation techniques and ancient agricultural knowledge in collaboration with experts in ecological agriculture. Additionally, the association launched an initiative to protect the knowledge associated with the use of local herbs in traditional medicine through training workshops for local craftsmen.
In the field of traditional crafts, the association has provided significant support to artisans in areas such as embroidery, weaving folk costumes, Sadu weaving, incense burner making, and perfume extraction, as well as organizing exhibitions of these crafts in local markets.
The association has expanded its activities to include collaborations with leading cultural institutions, such as the King Faisal Center for Islamic Studies and Research, to implement the "Cultural Seminars" project, and register the association in the "Raising the Efficiency and Readiness of NGOs in the Field of Government Services" project. It has also initiated a project to study and review legislation and regulations in the intangible heritage sector in cooperation with specialized committees. Furthermore, the association continues to provide consultations and develop systems related to governance, and has completed the preparation of financial statements, which have been submitted to the National Center.
As part of its efforts to develop cultural activities, coordination was made with the Saudi Higher Skills Institute for training to provide heritage-related training courses, and full communication was established with volunteers to join the association. Among the new projects the association is working on is the "Oral Memory of the Bani Saad" project, which focuses on one of the Arab tribes integral to Saudi Arabia's heritage. This project aims to collect and document the oral heritage of local history narrators.
Objectives
The Intangible Heritage Association is an organization that operates in accordance with the principles of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, focusing on the development of this sector through strategic priorities. The association aims to promote best practices in intangible heritage by establishing innovative professional standards, conducting scientific research, publishing specialized studies, and developing an international network of relationships to enhance cooperation among the parties involved. It also focuses on empowering professionals by offering advanced training programs and opportunities to enhance their capabilities, strengthening their communication networks, and helping them achieve tangible successes in their careers.
Additionally, the association works to influence policies and legislation to ensure the protection of intangible heritage and the interests of professionals in this field by advocating for laws that promote the development and sustainability of the sector.
The association seeks to recognize innovators within the sector by offering awards and certificates to highlight their contributions, as well as providing the necessary support to help them achieve success and sustainability.
In its efforts to raise public awareness, the association organizes innovative awareness campaigns and events aimed at emphasizing the importance of intangible heritage and its value in the lives of communities, focusing on the positive impact this sector can have on improving individuals' lives. Furthermore, the association seeks to expand its membership base by encouraging professionals to join and providing communication channels with international organizations such as the IOV and ICOM, thereby enhancing the association's presence at the international level.
Through these integrated efforts, the association is dedicated to contributing to the protection of intangible cultural heritage, ensuring its transmission to future generations, while preserving its role in shaping cultural identity and promoting human diversity.
Cooperation
The Intangible Heritage Association in Saudi Arabia seeks to build integrative relationships with communities and individuals who represent the core of intangible cultural heritage by involving them in all stages of preserving this heritage. This relationship begins with field documentation, which involves organizing meetings and workshops with elders, artisans, and traditional practitioners to collect knowledge related to traditions, arts, and crafts, while ensuring respect for their cultural rights.
A project was also launched to collect and develop a database of professionals in the sector, where the data of 284 professionals were gathered, and a committee of stakeholders was formed to follow up on the project. Additionally, a project to analyze technical and professional standards for professionals was implemented, with the adoption and launch of the project, as well as the formation of a committee to study the standards.
As part of strengthening the international presence, the association is registered with two international memberships: the IOV (International Organization of Folk Art) and the ICOM (International Council of Museums).
A project to study and review legislation and regulations in the intangible heritage sector was launched, where expert committees were formed, the first and second meetings were held, and relevant legislation was identified for study. In addition to these projects, a project to organize events and workshops under the slogan "We Are the Living Heritage" was undertaken, along with the preparation of other initiatives such as the production of visual and audio content, interactive activities via social media platforms, and the study of the oral memory of the Bani Saad, one of the Arab tribes integral to Saudi Arabia's heritage. Additionally, the Heritage Library Boutique project was launched. Intangible heritage items, including traditional arts and crafts, folk performing arts, music, and traditional dances, have been collected.
