The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously caused public disruption manifesting in different forms such as places on lockdowns, untimely shutdown of schools, cancellations of mass gatherings, and temporary closure of businesses. As the field of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) contends with the effects of the pandemic, ICHCAP and UNESCO Bangkok Office are organising sessions of interlinked online seminars dubbed as ICH Webinar Series to tackle important issues around ICH safeguarding in the time of COVID-19 and the future ahead of it. While the first couple sessions of the series will hear reports and studies about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on ICH safeguarding, the series itself is conceived to be a platform of ideas relevant to key areas in ICH Safeguarding such as information-sharing, networking, and cooperation among stakeholders in the ICH field.

The first session of the ICH Webinar Series will assess how COVID-19 pandemic has affected the cultural lives of peoples in the Asia-Pacific region and identify possible roles ICH might take in crisis. In light of the many vulnerabilities the pandemic has exposed in ICH communities, the session will hold a discussion of innovative solutions for ICH safeguarding and transmission. Slated on 18 June 2020 at 17:00 (Korea time), the first session will feature presentations from Juliette Hopkins (Living Heritage Entity, UNESCO), Anna Yau (The University of Hong Kong), Kirk Siang Yeo (National Heritage Board, Singapore) Professor Christopher Ballard (The Australian National University), and Professor Eric Zerrudo (University of Santo Tomas).

The ICH Webinar Series aims to foster public participation in discussions about living heritage. Questions are welcome from the public. The concept note of the first session is accessible through this link

Those interested to join the conversation are advised to write their questions in this pre-registration form