The Unesco Concept of Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage

Its Background andMarrakchiRoots

Bibliographic Data

ID5885096
AuthorsThomas M Schmitt (0009-0004-9908-7712, University of Bonn, corresponding author)
Year2008
Volume14
Issue2
Pages95-111
Publication date2008-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Heritage Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1352-7258 • E-ISSN: 1470-3610
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13527250701844019
OpenAlexW2025853446
LanguageEN
Citations received27
References cited6

In 1998 UNESCO started a programme for the proclamation of ‘Masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity’, a pre‐project for the new UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Jemaa el Fna Square in Marrakech was one of the first Masterpieces proclaimed by UNESCO in 2001. This paper examines the genesis and history of this new UNESCO concept of safeguarding intangible heritage. The Spanish writer Juan Goytisolo gave the decisive impulse for the new UNESCO concept in 1996 in order to safeguard Jemaa el Fna Square in Marrakech. Worrying that contemporary plans of local authorities would definitely change the character of the square and destroy its cultural traditions, Goytisolo asked UNESCO to proclaim the square as ‘oral heritage of humanity’. The wish to protect Jemaa el Fna Square on the one hand, and the existing Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on the other, can be seen as two reference points for the new UNESCO concept

Convention · Cultural heritage · Cultural heritage management · Environmental ethics · Humanity · Intangible cultural heritage · Political science · Proclamation · Safeguarding · Sociology · Archaeological Research and Protection · Conservation Techniques and Studies · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · History · Law · Philosophy

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