Intangible Heritage in a Tangible World: Writing the Playbook
Intangible Heritage in a Tangible World: Writing the Playbook
Thursday, May 27, 2021
The Advocates and Practioners: 9:00am-12:00pm
The Innovators and Visionaries: 1:00pm-4:00pm
Tangible and intangible heritage may be very different, yet they can also be so interconnected that they can be described as two sides of the same coin. Carrying meaning and the embedded memory of humanity, tangible and intangible heritage rely on each other when it comes to understanding their meanings and importance.
Yet even as our understanding and practice of heritage evolves, there is still a tendency to explain heritage through visual and tactile interactions. It is for that reason, no doubt, that UNESCO recommended heritage sites develop new ways to bring together movable and immovable, tangible and intangible, natural and cultural heritage and “[to] develop documentation tools and standards in establishing holistic museums and heritage practices.”
In BC, our heritage conservation tools, inscribed in legislation, have not evolved in the same ways, leading heritage guardians to ask, “How do we recognize intangible heritage in a tangible environment?”
In this session, we explore this question and look closely at new directions from around the world and practices right here at home. We have divided the day into four conversations so that we can explore this vital topic from different perspectives and experiences.
The Advocates: we start the day in conversation with our panel of advocates, who have their fingers on the pulse of the big ideas and trends.
- Katharine Turvey: Canadian Commission for UNESCO
- George P. Nicholas: Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University
- Agnes Pawlowska-Mainville: University of Northern BC; Member International Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage ICOMOS
The Practitioners: in this session, we explore the inventive ways our BC colleagues incorporate intangible cultural heritage into their work. Inspiration is in our own backyard.
The Innovators: we hear from those who are breaking new ground in this session.
The Visionaries: Reflecting on what they heard throughout the day, we ask our final group of panellists to propose a bold call to action.
- Cody Groat: Indigenous Heritage Circle; Department of History, Simon Fraser University
- Don Luxton: Donald Luxton & Associates
- Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra: South Asian Studies Institute, University of the Fraser Valley
- David Schimpky, Director of Secretariat at Canadian Commission for UNESCO
- Moderator: Wilco van Bemmel, CEO, Dunefield
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Schedule and timings are subject to change without notice. Periodically check the website for changes or email us if you have questions.