About Us
The Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee of ICOMOS-UK works to enable ICOMOS-UK to integrate Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), as defined by the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage and associated Guidelines, into its wide-ranging activities relating to the understanding, safeguarding and promotion of heritage.
What We Do
Our Objectives are:
1.To create an awareness and understanding of the 2003 UNESCO Convention and ICH Guidelines among ICOMOS-UK and its membership, heritage partners engaged directly or indirectly in the understanding and safeguarding and promotion of heritage, the UK National Commission for UNESCO, the State Party and the civil society and culturally diverse communities across the UK; to work towards supporting and encouraging UK ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention taking account of diverse views.
2.To broadly frame ICOMOS-UK’s work in the area of ICH within the following five ICH Domains as set out in the 2003 UNESCO Convention and Guidelines and other key genres that emerge in the course of the committee’s work:
oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage
performing arts
social practices, rituals and festive events
knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
traditional craftsmanship
The Committee recognises significant potential for fluidity of practice and for cross-fertilisation between these domains; it will also consider the relevance to its work of other areas of arts and heritage practice that emerge in the future.
3.To encourage good practice in the management of ICH through advice, education and training undertaken jointly with other relevant ICOMOS-UK Committees and/or heritage partners engaged in promoting and safeguarding ICH.
4.To develop a forum for dynamic discussions and debates on issues relating to ICH in the UK and feedback from the international committee as appropriate.
5.To maintain close links with the ICOMOS’s International Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage and its work and guidance on the identification, protection, interpretation, and management of the intangible cultural associations attributed to monuments and sites.
The Committee gains strength from:
Membership
Clara Arokiasamy, OBE, Chair, President of ICOMOS-UK Founder and chair and provides lead on ICH. Expertise includes: a strategic overview of ICH in the UK and abroad; ICH and Diaspora Communities and diverse heritages in the UK; Community Engagement
Finbarr Whooley, Vice Chair, Museum of London Director of Content, Deputises for the Chair of Committee. Expertise includes: Museum Collections and ICH
Dr Ataa Alsaloum, Architect and a Lecturer in Architecture and Urban Heritage, the University of Liverpool
Jo Buchanan, Independent Consultant. Expertise includes: Festivals, World Heritage Sites and ICH, ICH and Cornwall
Dr Janice Cheddie, Independent Arts/Heritage Consultant. Expertise includes: Archives, Decolonisation, community heritage
Michael Cooke, Arts Council England, Relationship Manager SE England. Expertise includes: Arts and Heritage Sector, Museums and heritage funding
Brandi Hall-Crossgrove, Chair, Combe Down Heritage Society. Expertise includes: Historian and World Heritage Specialist, Emerging Professionals
Katy Spicer, CEO, English Folk Dance and Song Society. Expertise includes: Folk Dance and songs; Arts organisation leadership
Susan Denyer, Secretary, ICOMOS-UK, Advisor to the Committee