The Release Ceremony of Selected Cases on ICH Safeguarding for Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific Region 2024 was held in Beijing on November 26, 2024. Hosted by the International Training Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (CRIHAP) and supported by the International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (IRCI) as well as the International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (ICHCAP), the event attracted over 100 participants, including Lan Jing, Director of the Center for Ethnic and Folk Literature and Art Development of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; Machida Daisuke, IRCI Director-General; Gyuri Park, Director of ICHCAP Office of Planning & Management; representatives of the institutions submitting selected cases; and members of CRIHAP’s Advisory Committee.

Zhang Jing, Director-General of CRIHAP, introduced the background and outcomes of the Open Call for Cases on ICH Safeguarding and Sustainable Development. During the event, the publication of the selected cases was released, both in Chinese and English. Directors and representatives of the CRIHAP, IRCI, and ICHCAP presented certificates to the institutions submitting the 27 selected cases. In addition, representatives from eight selected cases, including Indonesia’s Sasak Wayang Puppetry Foundation, Tencent’s Moonlight Blade project, the Colorful Pu’er Initiative, and the Hanzhong Ratan Weaving project, shared their experiences and achievements in leveraging ICH to promote sustainable development. Deirdre Prins-Solani, UNESCO’s ICH safeguarding expert, delivered a keynote speech on the significance of the 27 cases. She remarked that the cases, like seeds, would embed the concept of leveraging ICH as a driver of sustainable development.

Launched in June 2024, the Open Call was warmly responded to across various regions in China and a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, receiving over 200 cases in total. After careful evaluation and discussions among experts, 27 cases were selected. The cases were submitted by institutions such as government agencies, ICH safeguarding organizations, universities, foundations, social groups, and enterprises. The selected cases addressed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. The ICH domains covered included performing arts, oral traditions and expressions, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship. In the future, the cases will be incorporated into CRIHAP’s case database and utilized in future training programs.

The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage emphasizes the critical importance of ICH in achieving the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, recognizing ICH as a driver and guarantor of sustainability. UNESCO also prioritizes sharing best practices in ICH safeguarding, encouraging broader use of the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices. As a Category 2 Center under the auspices of UNESCO in the field of ICH, CRIHAP will continue to promote the exchange and sharing of ICH safeguarding experiences among Asia-Pacific countries, thereby contributing to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.

(By Zhang Yue)