The Committee
- Takes note that Chile has nominated Family tradition circus in Chile (No. 02271) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
The family tradition circus is a way of life that combines traditions and skills that have been passed down through the generations. It brings together families who travel in caravans, sharing their art and culture wherever they go. For the bearers, circus life is a vocation, deeply rooted in family and community. Although each circus has its own identity, rites and ceremonies, members share a sense of belonging to a broad family of circus performers, united by common traditions and celebrations. Circus performers take on various roles throughout their lives, such as acrobats, clowns, magicians and ringmasters, often playing multiple roles.
- Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
R.1: The knowledge and skills related to circus life are passed down from childhood, through oral traditions, play and hands-on experience. This learning process helps children acquire the artistic skills needed to perform and maintain circus culture. Family tradition circus fosters unity, resilience and solidarity, often supporting local communities through charity performances or during times of crisis. It provides a welcoming space for people from all walks of life, offering opportunities for expression and creativity. The practice thus promotes respect for diversity while making the arts accessible to different communities, from large cities to remote areas.
R.2: The submitting State Party consistently demonstrates that the element ensures visibility and awareness of the significance of intangible cultural heritage and contributes to several aspects of sustainable development. Community life promotes values such as mutual respect, solidarity, fraternity and the inclusion of people of any age, gender or cultural affiliation. LGBTQI+ individuals and people with disabilities actively participate in the circus according to their abilities and skills. In addition, the circus is an autonomous practice within the family economy, generating jobs and contributing to inclusive economic development.
R.3: Historically, the circus community has played a decisive role in its own preservation and encouraged the government to take measures in this direction. Thanks to the creation of a union in 1935, circus workers have been involved in legislative measures and public policies concerning working conditions and rights to education, health and intellectual property, among other issues. As part of this nomination, a safeguarding plan was drawn up, focusing on capacity-building, archiving, staging circus exhibitions, training, awareness-raising and promotion. The measures include the roles of various stakeholders, including circus communities.
R.4: The nomination process began in 2017 following a request from circus communities. A working group responsible for preparing the nomination file, including circus representatives, has met several times since then. Information sessions on the Representative List were organized within traditional circus community forums, to publicize the process, validate documents and obtain the consent of the community concerned. The nomination process was also publicized in the media, and a call for letters of support was issued, with 657 letters received.
R.5: The element was inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory during the ordinary session of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage in 2022. Community participation is one of the criteria for inclusion of an element in this inventory, which is regularly updated (the latest update being in 2020).
- Decides to inscribe Family tradition circus in Chile on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.