Periodic reporting on the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Convention provides in Article 29 that States Parties shall submit to the Committee reports on the legislative, regulatory and other measures taken for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage in their territories. Current page presents the periodic reports and deadlines of a country: Ukraine (see overview on all States Parties).

Periodic reporting on the implementation of the Convention allows States Parties to assess their implementation of the Convention, evaluate their capacities for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, report on their inventories of intangible cultural heritage and update the status of elements inscribed on the Representative List.

When elements are inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, the submitting State Party commits itself to take safeguarding measures aimed at strengthening the viability of the heritage concerned. Four years after inscription, the State Party reports to the Committee on the current situation of the element, the effectiveness of the safeguarding measures it has implemented, and the challenges it has encountered.


On the implementation of the Convention

Each State Party submits its periodic report to the Committee by 15 December of the sixth year following the year in which it deposited its instrument of ratification.

Report submitted on 15/12/2021 and examined by the Committee in 2022

Overview

soon available

Report submitted on 15/12/2015 and examined by the Committee in 2016 (originally due by 15/12/2014)

Overview

Ukraine became a State Party to the 2003 Convention in 2008. The competent body for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage is the Ukrainian Center for Cultural Studies under the Ministry of Culture. There are also 11 regional commissions which, among other things, develop Regional Records of intangible cultural heritage. In terms of overall policy, recording and disseminating intangible cultural heritage is a priority defined in the long-term strategy for cultural development developed in 2015 as an important means of preserving and strengthening national identity and ensuring cultural rights.
As regards training in intangible cultural heritage management, no specific institution or training course as yet exists but a national conference held in December 2015 proposed that from 2016 relevant training courses for specialists be set up in higher and specialized educational institutions. The main body responsible for documentation is the Ukrainian Center for Cultural Studies, which is responsible for providing scientific and methodological support for implementing the 2003 Convention. Other relevant bodies include the National Center for Folk Culture ‘Ivan Honchar Museum’ and the M. T. Rylsky Institute of Art, Folklore Studies and Ethnology.
The inventorying of Ukraine’s intangible cultural heritage is undertaken in the National Record which, at the time of reporting, contained five elements as well as in regional lists whose elements can later be incorporated into the National Record. Methodological recommendations on the preparation and use of inventory forms were developed in 2015, including an online version of the Record. The criteria for inclusion follow the terms of Article 2 of the 2003 Convention. The method for up-dating the inventory is reported as being developed. As for community involvement and the participation of non-governmental organizations in identifying and defining elements for inventorying, regional Creative Centres, regional civil organizations and universities with a specialization in folklore and related studies are also engaged to the process of identifying and defining elements of intangible cultural heritage for their inclusion in the Record.
Other safeguarding measures include a series of awards and incentives for bearers, researchers and others involved in various aspects of safeguarding, such as regional and national prizes and state grants awarded to leading figures in culture and art. Thus far, no specific scientific or technical studies have been undertaken on intangible cultural heritage and its elements, although methodological manuals have been prepared for the documentation, collection and conservation of elements as well as a glossary of key terms.
A number of educational programmes have been developed at different levels and there are currently a pre-school programme on ‘Ukrainian Environment’, school programmes in relevant arts and high-school programmes in folklore. The curricula of specialized art schools (aesthetic education) also contain relevant courses. The aforementioned 2015 national conference also recommended the introduction of curricula in folklore at higher education in order to create more specialists in the field as well as the adoption of a comprehensive research budget for intangible cultural heritage in folklore research. The Centre for Children and Youth also offers programmes in vocal music, decorative arts, choreography, crafts, circus arts etc. Capacity building in the intangible cultural heritage field has been undertaken through the popularization of the cultural practices by the National Center of Folk Culture ‘Ivan Honchar Museum’ and through regional activities such as folk festivals, ethnographic and arts fairs, exhibitions, and special holidays (e.g. the Reshetylivka Spring in the Poltava Region). The Ukrainian Center for Cultural Studies also organized a number of workshops, seminars and training seminars for different communities and groups on aspects of the 2003 Convention and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. More informal methods of transmission occur through workshops held during ethnographic and cultural events (fairs, festivals, master classes etc.). The Centre for Children and Youth also organizes tourist educational programmes that include education on the protection of natural spaces and places of memory important for intangible cultural heritage.
In terms of bilateral, sub-regional, regional and international cooperation, discussions have been held with Belarus, Lithuania, Poland and Romania, over common intangible cultural heritage elements in order to develop general and interdisciplinary approaches. Joint events (seminars, conferences) for the study and promotion of Ukrainian intangible cultural heritage elements in cooperation with the Ukrainian communities abroad are also being considered. In addition, cooperation and exchange of experience are established with the experts from Lithuania, Georgia, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova and a training workshop on ‘Intangible cultural heritage Ukraine, Lithuania, Azerbaijan’ was held in Ukraine in 2015.
Ukraine has one element inscribed on the Representative List, namely Petrykivka decorative painting as a phenomenon of the Ukrainian ornamental folk art, which was inscribed in 2013. This decorative art constantly innovates through new combinations of forms and symbols and through the use of new media such that they are now used in body art by young people following the popularization that has accompanied inscription. Leading exponents of the art play a central role in its continued viability, promotion and transmission and safeguarding measures include an annual festival, media coverage, both formal and non-formal education in schools, lectures and workshops.

On Urgent Safeguarding List elements

Reports on each element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List are submitted by the State Party on 15 December of the fourth year following the year in which the element was inscribed, and every fourth year thereafter.

Cossack’s songs of Dnipropetrovsk Region, inscribed in 2016

To access the description of this element, the original nomination file (form, consent of communities, photos and video) and the decision of inscription, please consult dedicated webpage.

A report will be due by 15/12/2028

Report submitted in 2024 and to be examined by the Committee in 2025

Report submitted on 15/12/2020 and examined by the Committee in 2021

Overview

soon available

Culture of Ukrainian borscht cooking, inscribed in 2022

To access the description of this element, the original nomination file (form, consent of communities, photos and video) and the decision of inscription, please consult dedicated webpage.

A report will be due by 15/12/2026

Report submitted on 15/12/2022 and examined by the Committee in 2023

Overview

soon available
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