The Bureau,
- Recalling Chapter V of the Convention as well as Chapter I.4 of the Operational Directives relating to the eligibility and selection criteria of International Assistance requests,
- Having examined document LHE/25/20.COM 4.BUR/3 as well as International Assistance request no. 02460 submitted by Egypt,
- Takes note that Egypt has requested International Assistance for the project entitled Safeguarding and capacity-building for the intangible cultural heritage of Al-Aragoz traditional hand puppetry in Egypt:
To be implemented by the Cultural Development Fund, this twenty-four-month project aims to revitalize and safeguard Al-Aragoz traditional hand puppetry through documentation, training and capacity-building. The project seeks to implement the updated safeguarding plan outlined in the latest periodic report submitted by Egypt on the element ‘Traditional hand puppetry’ inscribed in 2018 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Historically performed by traveling artists, Al-Aragoz performances were a staple of religious celebrations and public gatherings, primarily entertaining and educating children. Today, the number of Al-Aragoz practitioners has significantly declined due to multiple factors, including the aging and passing of master performers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of skill transmission to younger generations. Project activities include conducting workshops for new performers, training artisans in puppet-making, documenting traditional knowledge, and enhancing the educational and social functions of Al-Aragoz such as by partnering with the Ministry of Education to integrate performances into primary school programmes. The project will also involve creating a permanent exhibition hall for traditional puppetry and organizing an international conference on the topic of traditional puppetry to exchange experiences between researchers, scholars, practitioners and puppet-makers. The request further indicates promotional and awareness-raising outputs, including a dedicated website, brochures and catalogues, as well as a short documentary subtitled in Arabic and English. In addition to recognizing the importance of Al-Aragoz, this project is expected to illustrate how traditional arts can be revitalized, modernized and financially sustained, thus encouraging governmental, private sector and civil society organizations to invest in similar efforts for other endangered cultural practices.
- 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 Egypt has requested an allocation of US$99,840 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the implementation of the project;
- Decides that, from the information provided in file no. 02460, 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 communities concerned, including master puppeteers and artisans, have participated in the elaboration of the request. Their contributions were instrumental in identifying community safeguarding needs and priorities, helping to shape the proposed activities. During the project implementation, practitioners and bearers will contribute to the design of the training modules, lead training activities and participate in the public performances. Historically, this practice has been led by men, with no women currently recognized as bearers or practitioners. Taking into account the changing social contexts and readiness of the communities concerned, the project will adopt an inclusive and gender-balanced approach, with women constituting at least 50 per cent of the trainees in all the training areas. This measure aims to ensure that women are empowered to become future bearers of this practice. The request also indicates the participation of non-governmental organizations with experience in safeguarding Al-Aragoz in the training and community outreach components.
Criterion A.2: The budget breakdown and the proposed timetable are well structured and in line with the activities described in the request. The amount of assistance requested is deemed appropriate in relation to the scope and duration of the project.
Criterion A.3: The proposed activities are coherent and aligned with the objectives and expected results of the project. The activities entail stakeholder meetings, documentation, capacity-building, public performances, the establishment of an exhibition hall for Al-Aragoz, an awareness-raising campaign, an international conference and project monitoring.
Criterion A.4: Overall, the project intends to facilitate the implementation of some of the safeguarding measures identified in the latest
periodic report on the status of the inscribed
element submitted in 2022. Activities are designed to address the threats to the element, such as the decline of the number of bearers and practitioners, the loss of transmission chains and the lack of documentation and research. The awareness-raising campaign and the exhibition hall will contribute to increasing the recognition of Al-Aragoz at the institutional and national levels. In addition, the project entails the organization of approximatively fifty public performances in schools and cultural centres in Cairo, Alexandria and Upper Egypt. The shows will bring together more than 15,000 people, raising general awareness of the element while offering the public, including families and children, the opportunity to appreciate it. Through a varied range of activities, the project aims to ensure the viability and visibility of the element, while enhancing its social functions in the current context. Furthermore, trainees will be equipped with entrepreneurship skills to launch their own Al-Aragoz-related ventures.
Criterion A.5: The requesting State Party will contribute 25 per cent (US$33,690) of the total amount of the project budget (US$133,530). Consequently, International Assistance is requested from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the remaining 75 per cent of the total amount of the project.
Criterion A.6: The project aims to strengthen the capacities of communities to ensure the transmission of skills and knowledge associated with Al-Aragoz to future generations. During the capacity-building programme, sixty individuals will receive training in various areas related to this element, from puppet manipulation, to voice modulation (‘Al-Amana'), improvisation, storytelling and cultural entrepreneurship. Artisans will also acquire expertise in puppet making and voice device construction. As future practitioners, trainees will be selected through open calls for applications in universities, non-governmental organizations and cultural centres. The request also emphasizes that the capacities of master practitioners will be further expanded by engaging them as trainers and mentors. This will not only strengthen their own recognition but also ensure that their expertise is transmitted to younger generations in a structured manner. Institutional capacities will be strengthened within the Cultural Development Fund, which will coordinate the implementation of the project. The establishment of a permanent exhibition hall will also serve as a long-term educational platform, thus broadening the institution’s role in safeguarding this practice.
Criterion A.7: Egypt has benefited from International Assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for one completed project.
[1] The work stipulated in the contract related to this project was carried out in accordance with UNESCO regulations.
Paragraph 10(a): The project is national in scope and will involve the Ministries of Culture, Higher Education, Youth and Tourism and the Supreme Council of Culture. Academics and non-governmental artistic organizations – namely, the Wamda Troupe for Aragoz and Shadow Shows – will also participate in the project.
Paragraph 10(b): The project is expected to revitalize this popular art expression at the national level. It also seeks to establish partnerships between governmental institutions, private sector entities, and civil society organizations, with the aim of facilitating the mobilization of financial and technical resources for the safeguarding of the element.
- Approves the International Assistance request from Egypt for the project entitled Safeguarding and capacity-building for the intangible cultural heritage of Al-Aragoz traditional hand puppetry in Egypt, and grants the amount of US$99,840 for the implementation of this project;
- Commends the State Party for the submission of an International Assistance request to implement the updated safeguarding measures outlined in its latest periodic report (submitted in December 2022) on the status of the element ‘Traditional hand puppetry’, demonstrating the effective use, in an inter-related manner, of the international cooperation mechanisms of the Convention;
- Notes with interest the gender-balanced approach developed in the project and encourages the State Party to share experience gained from the project on showcasing inclusive safeguarding experiences;
- 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 the work plan of the activities to be covered by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund are detailed and specific enough to provide a sufficient justification of all the expenditures;
- Invites the requesting State Party to use Form ICH-04-Report to report on the use of the assistance granted.
[1]‘Inventory of intangible culture of craftsmanship in the core of Historic Cairo’ (US$86,950; August 2021–September 2023).