Present and future of UNESCO Intangible Heritage

What is UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage? What is the role of digital technologies for its preservation and communication? What are the most promising cases? These and other issues  Sunday, 28 July at 5:30 p.m. during the public conference “The candidacy of Ticino in the Representative list of intangible cultural heritage and UNESCO World Heritage Sites”. The conference will be held inside «Maison Ticino» at the Grand Hotel du Lac, Vevey, during the Fête des Vignerons.

Prof. Lorenzo Cantoni of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), head of the UNESCO chair in ICT to develop and promote sustainable tourism in World Heritage Sites, will explore the concept of intangible cultural heritage, and retrace its history and value for the future. The conference will also offer the chance to present the reasons for the only candidacy of this kind from Ticino, which is proposed by the Federal Council and seeks to include the Processions of the Holy Week in Mendrisio in the list of traditions safeguarded by UNESCO. The conference will therefore feature Juri Clericetti (OTR Bellinzona) and Nadia Lupi (OTR Mendrisio) who are both responsible for the tourism organisations in Ticino (Bellinzona and Northern Ticino area, and Mendrisiotto and Lower Ceresio). The President of the Fondazione Processioni Settimana Santa, Mendrisio Gabriele Ponti will also take part in the conference.  

In 1972, UNESCO established the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage to safeguard the values of the world’s most important cultural and natural heritage sites and preserve them for future generations. Switzerland has currently registered 12 sites on the World Heritage List. In 2003, the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible and Cultural Heritage was adopted. This heritage encompasses living traditions such as oral expression, the performing arts, social practices, rituals and festivals, knowledge of nature and the universe, and craftsmanship. Switzerland already has four registered traditions, including the Fête des Vignerons.

A buffet will be offered after the conference, offered by Maison Ticino.

USI UNESCO Chair
http://unescochair.usi.ch

Bellinzonese e Alto Ticino Turismo
www.bellinzonese-altoticino.ch        

Organizzazione Turistica Regionale Mendrisiotto e Basso Ceresio
www.mendrisiottoturismo.ch

Fête des Vignerons
www.fetedesvignerons.ch