This section highlights representative activities financed under the Funds-in-Trust in the early years (1993-2001). These endeavours actually consolidated the basis for UNESCO’s activities in the field.
1. International Consultation on New Perspectives for UNESCO’s Programme: The Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO Paris)
(UNESCO Paris, 16–17 June 1993, jointly funded by UNESCO and the UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust, US$ 30,000 each)
This Consultation was organized to advise the Organization on future directions, the orientation of the medium-term strategy (1996–2001) and its programme for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. Eighty-one participants, including experts, representatives of research institutions, private foundations as well as observers from some thirty countries, attended the meeting. Several new guidelines were drawn up regarding UNESCO’s future actions.
Total Project Cost US$ 30,000
Lead Organization / Sector / Office UNESCO intangible heritage section
2. Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger of Disappearing (UNESCO Paris)
First edition: UNESCO Paris, 1994–96, US$ 37,290;
revised edition: UNESCO Paris, 2001, US$ 38,420)
Experts estimate that close to half of the six thousand languages spoken in the world today are likely to disappear in the foreseeable future. The disappearance of any language is a loss for humankind. UNESCO has taken the initiative to develop awareness of this problem among Member States and mobilize public opinion as to the urgent need to preserve and revitalize these languages.
The Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger of Disappearing, first published in English, French and Spanish in 1996 and revised in 2001 thanks to the Fund, is an example of UNESCO’s interest in raising awareness regarding this issue. A reference book for scholars, journalists and the general public, it provides a comprehensive list of endangered languages and a concise summary of the worldwide situation. UNESCO is currently developing an enhanced online version of the Atlas within the framework of its Endangered Languages and Multilingualism in Cyberspace programmes.
Total Project Cost US$ 75,710
Lead Organization / Sector / Office UNESCO intangible heritage section
3. International Conference: World Survey on the Application of the Recommendation Adopted in 1989 on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore (Washington)
(Washington D.C., 1999, UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust, US$ 69,942; the Smithsonian Institution, US$ 60,000; US State Department, US$ 30,000; The National Endowment for the Arts, US$ 10,000)
Since the adoption of UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore in 1989, much has changed in the political, economic, social and cultural setting worldwide. Despite the adoption of the Recommendation and the progress of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage programme, many issues and questions were raised regarding the situation of this heritage. In response, from 1995 to 1999, UNESCO organized eight regional seminars to assess the application of the Recommendation. Based on their findings, UNESCO, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, organized an International Conference with the intention of reviewing the protection of intangible cultural heritage, assessing the relevance of UNESCO’s 1989 Recommendation in the current situation and developing fresh orientations for UNESCO’s programme.
At the end of the Conference, the participants concluded that a legally binding instrument would be needed; they also found that the 1989 Recommendation focused too much on research and documentation and not enough on the protection of living practices and traditions or on the groups and communities who are the bearers of these practices and traditions. They also acknowledged the need to establish an international and interdisciplinary network of experts to assist Member States in developing concrete programmes to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage. This was brought to the attention of the Director-General of UNESCO who communicated the issue to the Member States. The 31st session of the General Conference (2001) then decided to work toward a new international normative instrument, preferably an international convention.
Total Project Cost US$ 69,942
Lead Organization / Sector / Office UNESCO intangible heritage section
4. The Blue of Samarkand: Project for the Revival of Medieval Ishkor Alkaline Vegetable Glaze, Used in the Past For Both Architectural Glazed Tiles and Utilitarian Pottery and Follow-up to the Blue of Samarkand Project: National Inventory and Revival of the Traditional Ceramics of Uzbekistan (Samarkand)
Project for the Revival of Medieval Ishkor Alkaline Vegetable Glaze, Used in the Past For Both Architectural Glazed Tiles and Utilitarian Pottery (Samarkand, 1998–2000, US$ 94,000) and Follow-up to the Blue of Samarkand Project: National Inventory and Revival of the Traditional Ceramics of Uzbekistan (Samarkand, 2003–06, US$ 197,323)
A unique technique for producing glaze for tiles used in sacred monuments was practised for centuries in Central Asia. This glaze was produced mainly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The medieval pottery of Central Asia withstood centuries of exposure to the region’s severe climatic and environmental conditions. As old techniques have been lost, however, the tiles produced today in restoration workshops are inferior in quality to those from medieval times.
The project aimed to revive the technique of producing the traditional plant-based glaze of the region for application in ceramic vessels and architectural restoration, and to support the potters working within the historical ceramic traditions of Central Asia.
The project, which involved the making of a special kiln according to historical models, was successful in rediscovering the traditional technology employed to produce the type of blue-glazed kashin used in Timurid Samarkand. The process of preparing the clay and glaze was recorded on video. Based on the recommendations of experts at an international symposium in Samarkand (2002), UNESCO initiated a follow-up to the project, mainly to establish an inventory of the traditional ceramics of Central Asia and create a new folk potters association.
Total Project Cost US$ 291,323
Lead Organization / Sector / Office UNESCO Tashkent Office
5. Indigenous Languages: Revitalization and Preservation in Melanesia and the Pacific (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu)
According to statistics, twenty-three percent of the world’s languages are found in Melanesia. Many of them run the risk of disappearing due to decreased usage and the lack of proper orthographies and related materials to teach them in educational institutions. This project was implemented to safeguard languages as part of the region’s cultural heritage and to use language as a tool for development in the area of education and for maintaining cultural identity in the communities of the Pacific Islands.
The project included linguistic surveys in Melanesia conforming to international standards. The development of orthographies for unwritten languages, vernacular language materials for elementary schools and audio-visual materials for pedagogical purposes followed. Dictionaries were also compiled. Other activities included translating governmental documents and publications into local languages.
The project fostered an increased awareness among indigenous groups of the importance of their vernacular languages and encouraged local and national communities to take initiatives to safeguard them. In the case of Vanuatu, the teaching of vernacular languages in schools is now a government policy. A National Language Committee responsible for the implementation of this new policy was recently established.
Total Project Cost US$ 129,385
Lead Organization / Sector / Office UNESCO Apia Office