Objectives

As a priority, the Association's activity aims, in a sustained and scientific way, to contribute to highlighting and distinguishing the identity role of the ICH, whether it manifests itself through individuals, groups or communities. In this context, the objectives are: a) To expand the knowledge and enhancement of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and its scientific and technical domains, namely through training, identification, survey and inventory actions, as well as registration, collection, preservation and dissemination. b) To encourage the implementation of programmes, projects and activities to safeguard the Intangible Cultural Heritage, bearing in mind, in particular, the principles and objectives of the UNESCO Convention (2003). c) To develop relations and agreements with similar institutions, as well as with national and international agents, namely municipalities; research centres; Museums; Federations; popular confraternities and similar associations; personalities and artistic-cultural groups that favour the study, dissemination, production of projects and technical-scientific support in the field of Intangible Cultural Heritage. d) To disseminate the concept of Cultural Heritage (as a tangible and intangible reality), as well as the frequent interconnection between Material, Intangible and Natural heritage, namely in the archaeological, built, historical, artistic and landscape aspects.

Cooperation

Since the foundation of the Association, its main objective is to develop its activity of valuing, collecting, promoting and safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage involving the communities, supporting the continuity of cultural manifestations. It is also its goal to make the Municipalities and the Parish Councils aware of the importance of supporting the safeguarding of the ICH, and to highlight the need for immediate action concerning the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. In the conferences promoted throughout the country, the Association calls the attention for the importance of involving the holders of the ICH and the people considered «living treasures», by giving them visibility and cultural importance. In the activities of the association the connection with the Inter-municipal Communities, the Municipals, the Parish Councils, the Cultural and Recreational Associations, the School Directors, the Teacher Training Centres, the Museums, the Municipal and School Libraries, the polytechnic institutes, the Universities among others, aims to emphasise the importance of inventorying ICH. The Association also involves its members working in different territories and governing bodies in events developed in partnership, in order to involve the municipality and the holders of the ICH. It develops cooperation through, for example: involvement in the organization of trainings, conferences, regional and national meetings, free training courses and other accredited ones, congresses, webinars. In addition, it participates through the establishment of collaboration protocols with the following entities: Geography Society, CLEPUL - Centre for Lusophone and European Literatures and Cultures, Lusófona University - University Centre of Lisbon, Tomar Teacher Training Centre, Municipalities, ANAFRE - National Association of Parishes. Another cooperation is the participation in activities developed by the holders of the ICH, at their invitation, in order to sensitize the agents to the importance of preserving, safeguarding and disseminating cultural manifestations, We have also developed partnerships with professionals linked to the safeguarding of the ICH, such as, Alexandre Parafita, ethnologist, PhD in Portuguese Culture, with several published works and José Alberto Sardinha, researcher of traditional Portuguese music, with several published works, among many other personalities with prominence in the work developed in favour of the ICH.