International Heritage News
01
International Conference on "Participatory Approaches to World Heritage" Held in Seoul
The international conference on "Participatory Approaches to World Heritage," organized by ICCROM, ICOMOS, and Sogang University, was held in Seoul with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. The advisory bodies to the World Heritage Committee, together with international funding, urban development, and heritage conservation organizations, discussed sustainable pathways to ensure broader participation in World Heritage.
The immediate goal of the conference was to establish an analytical framework applicable to World Heritage case studies. In the long term, the conference will provide a basis for improving participatory approaches to the World Heritage Convention, ensuring inclusivity, balance, clear scope, and effectiveness, as well as mechanisms for reviewing and evaluating these measures.
Over the past 50 years, the implementation of the World Heritage Convention has gradually shifted toward a people-centered approach. Although the importance of local knowledge and skills is recognized, pathways for community participation in World Heritage processes remain unclear, lacking clear theoretical definitions and practical guidance. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze existing theories and practices within and outside the heritage field to establish a well-structured and practical framework.
To this end, the conference focused on the definition of "participation" and its use within and outside the heritage field, and discussed stakeholder analysis and engagement, decision-making processes and governance arrangements, communication with diverse communities, and the establishment of grievance mechanisms.
Source: www.icomos.org
02
UNESCO Provides Capacity Building Training for Sustainable Tourism Implementation in Gansu Province
The second "Dialogue with Gansu" sustainable tourism capacity building training, jointly organized by the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, the World Bank, and the Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, was held in Lanzhou from March 25 to 27, 2024.
Under the framework of the World Bank-funded Gansu Silk Road Economic Belt Cultural Heritage Preservation and Innovation Project, the training was based on key principles and concepts of UNESCO's 1972 World Heritage Convention. It aimed to equip local stakeholders in Gansu with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance visitor experiences while protecting the region's environment and culture. Approximately 80 representatives from the Gansu provincial government, seven project cities/counties/districts under the Gansu Cultural Heritage Preservation and Innovation Project, academia, heritage sites, the private sector, and local communities participated in the workshop.
Dr. Li Guanghan, Assistant Director and Researcher at the UNESCO Asia-Pacific World Heritage Training and Research Center (Beijing), was invited to attend the conference, deliver a keynote speech on the theme of "Cultural Heritage Conservation and Tourism Development," and moderate a thematic panel discussion.
Source: UNESCO
03
UNESCO Provides Capacity Building Training for the International Fund for Cultural Diversity in Mongolia
On April 10, 2024, the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, the UNESCO National Commission of Mongolia, and the Ministry of Culture organized a one-day capacity building workshop.
The main purpose of the workshop was to enhance participants' understanding of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD). The IFCD is a product of UNESCO's 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and has played an important role in investing in cultural and creative industries and building capacity in Global South countries. Since its establishment in 2010, the IFCD has provided over US$10 million to 140 projects in 69 countries, including three projects in Mongolia.
Source: UNESCO
04
Second Learning Exchange Workshop on "Sustainable Development Perspectives in Project Design and Participatory Project
Development"
On April 3, 2024, the UNESCO World Heritage Secretariat organized the second learning and exchange workshop for the project "Management of World Heritage Sites after COVID-19: Integration of Heritage Conservation, Tourism, and Local Livelihood Strategies," funded by the Government of Japan through the UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust.
Source: whc.unesco.org
05
Third Short Film Competition - My Heritage
The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) and the Heritage Commission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair on World Heritage Management and Sustainable Tourism in the Arab Region, organized the third short film competition "My Heritage."
This year's competition focuses on traditional handicrafts at World Heritage sites and their relationship with surrounding communities. By submitting a film reflecting the unique stories of World Heritage sites in the Arab region, participants contribute to raising awareness about these sites and their tangible and intangible heritage.
Registration for the competition runs from April to May 2024, with selected participants attending an online training workshop in August.
For registration and more details on the competition's terms and conditions, please visit the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage website:https://www.arcwh.org/ar/events/22171/
Source: whc.unesco.org
Domestic Heritage News
01
Registration Opens for the 7th International Conference on Digital Heritage (CHCD2024)
The 7th International Conference on Digital Heritage (CHCD2024) is scheduled to be held in Beijing from July 16 to 19, 2024. The conference theme is "RE-shape: Digital Heritage Driven by Technological Innovation."
The conference will invite internationally renowned scholars to deliver special reports and will also organize special sessions and activities such as country-specific sessions, international heritage site promotion sessions, and young expert forums. The aim is to promote cutting-edge international discussions, build platforms for innovation and cooperation, and support the development of the global cultural heritage industry.
Source: ICOMOS China
02
Over 1,000 Artifacts Extracted from the Highest-Grade Chu State Tomb – Important Achievements in Archaeological Work at the King Wudun Tomb
On April 16, the National Cultural Heritage Administration held a working meeting on the progress of major "Archaeology China" projects in Huainan City, Anhui Province, announcing new archaeological discoveries at the Wuwangdun Tomb.
The Wuwangdun Tomb is located in Sanhe Town, Huainan City, Anhui Province. It preserves important remains including the main tomb (Tomb No. 1), cemetery grounds, chariot and horse pits, accompanying tombs, and sacrificial pits. Since 2020, archaeologists have focused on excavating the main tomb (Tomb No. 1), confirming it as a large "jia-shaped" vertical earthen pit tomb. The Wuwangdun Tomb is the largest, highest-ranking, and most structurally complex large Chu state tomb excavated scientifically to date. Preliminary inferences suggest it may be a Chu royal tomb dating to the late Warring States period after the Chu state moved its capital to Shouchun City. It provides systematic archaeological data for studying the burial system of high-ranking Chu state tombs in the late Warring States period, as well as the history and culture of the Chu state after its eastward migration.
Over 1,000 numbered artifacts, including lacquerware and bronzes, have already been extracted – an unprecedented quantity and variety.
The enormous scale and rich content of the Wuwangdun Tomb No. 1 indicate it represents the highest-level funeral system of the Chu state. Its date falls within the critical period when the feudal state system was disintegrating and a unified empire was about to take shape. It provides systematic scientific archaeological data for studying the historical evolution of the Zhou, Qin, Chu, and Han dynasties and the formation of the Qin-Han centralized unified state and culture, as well as the social life and historical and cultural landscape of the Chu state after its eastward migration to the Jianghuai region.
Source: Archaeology China
03
World Heritage Main Venue Event for International Day for Monuments and Sites Held in Liangzhu, Hangzhou
On April 18, 2024, the World Heritage main venue event for the International Day for Monuments and Sites was held at the Liangzhu Ancient City Site. This year's theme was "60 Years of the Venice Charter and the Challenges of Our Time." The event was co-organized by ICOMOS China, the Zhejiang Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics, and the People's Government of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, and co-hosted by the Hangzhou Liangzhu Site Management Area Administrative Committee, the Archaeological Heritage Management Professional Committee of ICOMOS China, and the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection and Utilization Association.
In 1983, the 22nd UNESCO General Conference designated April 18 as the "International Day for Monuments and Sites," aiming to promote heritage conservation concepts globally and raise public awareness of heritage protection. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Venice Charter, an important international document in the field of cultural heritage. ICOMOS China responded to this theme by organizing this main event to promote the principles of the Venice Charter and discuss the future of cultural heritage conservation.
Source: National Cultural Heritage Administration
04
"Protect the Earth, Panda Ambassadors in Action" Nature Education Event to Be Held in Huanglong for World Earth Day 2024
To celebrate the 55th World Earth Day, further enhance primary and secondary school students' awareness of caring for World Heritage sites and our Earth home, and strengthen their ability to participate in sustainable development actions for World Heritage, a nature education event themed "Protect the Earth, Panda Ambassadors in Action" will be jointly held on April 20. The event is supported by the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia and organized by the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Tourism in UNESCO Designated Sites, the Huanglong National Scenic Area Administration, and the School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University.
Source: UNESCO Asia-Pacific World Heritage Training and Research Center
Compiled by: Ma Lerong
Editors: Ma Lerong, Piao Lina
Reviewers: Li Guanghan, Wang Siyu
Final Review: Shen Ruiwen, Zhang Jianwei
