The Bureau,
- Recalling Article 23 of the Convention as well as Chapter I.4 of the Operational Directives relating to the eligibility and criteria of International Assistance requests,
- Having examined document LHE/24/19.COM 1.BUR/3, as well as International Assistance request no. 02210 submitted by Hungary,
- Takes note that Hungary has requested International Assistance for the project entitled Safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage of Ukrainian displaced persons in Hungary: inclusive community practices:
- To be implemented by the Hungarian Open Air Museum, this fifteen-month project aims to develop a methodology for engaging museums with the Ukrainian communities displaced in Hungary, while supporting the safeguarding of their intangible cultural heritage. The project is based on the outcomes of the UNESCO initiative on community-based needs identification of living heritage safeguarding among displaced communities from Ukraine in five neighbouring countries: Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, implemented in 2022. It involves, among other activities, a capacity-building workshop focusing on intercultural dialogue and inclusive practices, with support from cultural, psychological and methodological specialists. The workshop will prepare participants for the design and implementation of five museum pilot projects centred around five types of Ukrainian living heritage: (a) textile work and refined handicrafts; (b) folk dances; (c) traditional music and singing; (d) religion and feasts; and (e) traditional foodways. An international conference will bring together the key players from the projects to discuss the lessons learnt and to share the project results and best practices. The outcomes of these activities will be promoted through short films and will be used to produce an online publication in three languages (Hungarian, Ukrainian and English). The project is meant to help reduce communication gaps and foster solidarity between the displaced communities and the host country.
- Further takes note that this assistance aims to support a project implemented at the national level, in accordance with Article 20 (c) of the Convention, and that it takes the form of the provision of a grant, pursuant to Article 21 (g) of the Convention;
- Also takes note that Hungary has requested emergency assistance in the amount of US$99,710 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the implementation of this project;
- Decides that, from the information provided in file no. 02210, the request responds as follows to the criteria for granting International Assistance given in paragraphs 10 and 12 of the Operational Directives:
Criterion A.1: The UNESCO-supported community-based needs identification, which took place in Hungary in 2022, provided an opportunity for the representatives of displaced Ukrainian communities to participate in the preparation of the emergency International Assistance request. During its implementation, the project will support both Ukrainian-speaking communities who have been displaced, and Romani displaced communities arriving from the Transcarpathian region who speak Hungarian and Ukrainian. The active participation of communities is at the core of the project and will be ensured throughout its implementation. They will be key players in identifying and defining the elements of Ukraine’s intangible cultural heritage, as well as in developing the five pilot projects.
Criterion A.2: The budget is well structured and thought through to support the different components of the project. The overall amount of assistance requested seems appropriate regarding the objectives and the scope of the project.
Criterion A.3: The request includes five activities that are built around five types of Ukrainian living heritage. The activities consist of: (a) a preparatory training workshop; (b) the design and implementation of five pilot projects; (c) an evaluation workshop for the pilot projects; (d) the publication and dissemination of the communication materials produced; and (e) the organization of an international conference. These activities are presented in a logical sequence and their implementation seems feasible within the proposed timeframe. Although further details on the content and methodology of the workshops would have been useful, the project description was adequate to understand the details of its implementation.
Criterion A.4: The project will contribute to the exchange of experiences and good practices on how communities and museums can work together to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of displaced populations, increase the visibility of Ukrainian living heritage and strengthen transmission mechanisms. This is an innovative approach involving displaced communities in safeguarding and raising awareness of their living heritage, as well as enriching Hungarian culture. The museums will become safe spaces where communities can celebrate and put into practice living heritage with the support of Hungarian museum professionals. Through various activities, the communities will be able to acquire communication skills that will facilitate their integration in the host country. Furthermore, the lessons learnt from the project will be taken into consideration when developing future projects involving displaced communities in Hungary.
Criterion A.5: The submitting State Party will contribute 13 per cent (US$14,657) of the total amount of the project budget (US$114,367). Consequently, International Assistance is requested from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the remaining 87 per cent of the total amount of the project budget.
Criterion A.6: The project can make a significant contribution to building capacity for safeguarding Ukraine’s intangible cultural heritage, both among displaced Ukrainian communities and museum professionals in Hungary. Above all, the various activities will benefit displaced communities, with a focus on women, children, older adults and vulnerable groups. For example, Ukrainian children who do not speak Hungarian may face serious communication difficulties at school, but the cultural activities offered by the museums could encourage them to express themselves and to regain confidence. Thirty members of the communities will be involved in the project’s preparation and evaluation phases, and over fifty people will take part in the five pilot projects, which will be implemented in selected Hungarian museums. Through the five pilot projects, participants will have the opportunity to share their specific living heritage practices and exchange experiences with the local population.
Criterion A.7: The requesting State Party has not previously received any financial assistance from UNESCO under the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund of the 2003 Convention to implement activities in the field of intangible cultural heritage.
Paragraph 10(a): The proposed activities are national in scope and involve the Ukrainian Cultural Association of Hungary, local museums, cultural associations and NGOs working with displaced Ukrainian people.
Paragraph 10(b): The results of the project may attract funding from governments, foundations and other donors interested in supporting similar initiatives in Hungary and in other places with similar contexts. The collaborative nature of the project, involving partnerships between Ukrainian communities and Hungarian cultural institutions and museums, creates opportunities for other organizations and institutions to support or replicate similar projects. The good practices and lessons learnt from the project will also be shared with neighbouring countries, including Ukraine.
- Approves the International Assistance request from Hungary for the project entitled Safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage of Ukrainian displaced persons in Hungary: inclusive community practices and grants the amount of US$99,710 to the State Party for this purpose;
- Commends the State Party for its initiative to submit an emergency request for the benefit of Ukrainian displaced communities in Hungary, thereby contributing to their resilience and well-being, and encourages the State Party to share its experiences and project outcomes with the international community upon the completion of the project;
- Requests that the Secretariat reach an agreement with the requesting State Party on the technical details of the assistance, paying particular attention to ensuring that the budget and work plan of the activities to be covered by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund are detailed and specific enough to provide sufficient justification of all the expenditures;