Intangible Heritage Convention Montreal (QC) – October 17-20, 2013

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the CQPV

Context
Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a concept that seeks to have an impact on certain cultural practices passed on from generation to generation. This implies, among other things, the improvement of institutional consideration towards the traditional culture sectors. Ever since the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage came into force in 2006, there has been a rush to add elements to the Representative List and, to a lesser extent, to the Urgent Safeguarding List. Some initiatives have also been incorporated into the Register of Best Safeguarding Practices. The CQPV considers it of fundamental importance to share such experiences, their exemplary character serving to promote concrete involvement in a given practice.
In Quebec (Canada), the Cultural Heritage Act, which includes intangible heritage, came into effect on October 19th, 2012. This Act enables the Quebec Minister of Culture to officially designate certain ICH elements on a national scale. Municipalities also have the ability to recognize local ICH elements with official statutes. Furthermore, legal entities with a non-profit status will be able to request financial aid for heritage-related projects.
The “Intangible Heritage: Best Practices” conference organized by the Quebec Council for Living Heritage (CQPV) will bring together stakeholders and decision-makers in the field of intangible heritage to encourage the exchange of international expertise. Participants will be inspired by best practices in the field and evaluate how local or international experiences could be applied elsewhere. Concrete cases will inspire participants to think about the broader process of safeguarding intangible heritage. This event builds on the 2011 colloquium entitled “Measures of Support for Intangible Cultural Heritage: Governments, Institutions and Municipalities” (proceedings are available in print format upon request, or as a free downloadable PDF file).
Submission of Applications
Government representatives, municipal officers, researchers, and managers of associations, events or institutions involved with intangible cultural heritage (ICH) are invited to provide a one or two page summary of their presentation. One or more of the following themes should be addressed:
• Explanation and analysis of a promising initiative related to the development of an ICH element;
• Systems of recognition of individual ICH tradition bearers: how they operate and their documented impact;
• An exemplary school-based project and the role of ICH in public and private education;
• The initiatives of organized professionals in the field (dissemination, education, research) and their mutual collaboration within a social and cultural regional economy
• Cases involving successful partnerships between different sectors related to ICH;
• Private safeguarding strategies in the arts and traditional craft markets;
• Examples of participatory action research or documentation initiatives that have had a beneficial effect on the development of a traditional practice;
• The positive impact of a law, a list, or a policy (national or local) related to ICH;
• The 2003 UNESCO Convention’s Register of Best Safeguarding Practices;
• Studies dealing with the economic aspects of ICH;
• Cases involving the resolution of lawsuits related to intellectual property of an ICH element;
• Critical perspectives: cases where the concept of ICH could hinder the development of activities transmitted by oral tradition.
Evaluation Criteria
• Relevance to a broad range of stakeholders within a cultural sector;
• Methodological qualities of the initiative;
• Potential to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in fields related to intangible heritage.

Proposals will be evaluated by a committee made up of ICH professionals working in Quebec and on the international stage. Selected candidates will be notified on April 30, 2013 at the latest.
Application Procedures
1. First name, last name & address;
2. Short biography & institutional/associational affiliation (if applicable) & discipline;
3. E-mail address & website (if applicable);
4. Résumé including bibliography (if application);
5. Please mention whether you are able to ensure your own transportation and/or accommodation costs.

Send proposals to: info@patrimoinevivant.qc.ca
Information: +1.418.524-9090 or www.patrimoinevivant.qc.ca
Deadline for proposals: May 30, 2013
Presentations must be delivered exclusively in French or in English.
Presentations will take the form of panels and round-table discussions.
The publication of conference proceedings is anticipated.

The Conseil québécois du patrimoine vivant (CQPV) is a non-governmental organization recognized by the ministère de la Culture du Québec that brings together professionals in the fields of arts and traditional knowledge. The CQPV maintains consultative relations with UNESCO in relation to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.