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Türkiye marked the 20th anniversary of joining UNESCO's Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage with a meeting in Istanbul, bringing together government officials, academics and civil society representatives to review the country's preservation efforts and international cooperation.
The gathering, hosted by Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University's Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum, examined Türkiye's two decades of experience under the convention, which focuses on safeguarding living cultural traditions, practices and knowledge.
Organized by the Traditional Arts Association in cooperation with Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO, the event also marked the first activity of Türkiye's Accredited Intangible Cultural Heritage NGO Forum.
During the discussions, Ugur Kilic, head of the Department for Safeguarding Living Heritage at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, outlined the ministry's work under the UNESCO convention and its efforts to preserve intangible cultural heritage.
Bilge Tuzel Ergin, rapporteur of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee, emphasized the commission's role in raising awareness of the convention and making its objectives more visible.
Halil Ibrahim Topcu, deputy chair of the Ministry of National Education's Board of Education and Discipline, highlighted the connection between cultural heritage and education, stressing that traditions must first be practiced, passed down and sustained to ensure their preservation.
"To protect it, we must first experience it, then keep it alive, and finally ensure its sustainability," Topcu said.
The meeting also brought attention to the role of nongovernmental organizations in safeguarding cultural heritage and the process through which they receive UNESCO accreditation, a form of official recognition under the convention.
Baris Can, curator and research assistant at the Archers Foundation, discussed the activities of UNESCO-accredited organizations from Türkiye, while Sona Tomac, secretary-general of the Traditional Arts Association, explained accreditation procedures under the 2003 convention.
International perspectives were provided by Irena Todorova, executive director of the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe under UNESCO's auspices, who outlined the center's activities and achievements.
Masa Vucanovic, a member of the ICH NGO Forum's executive board, also presented the work of the international network bringing together accredited civil society organizations.
The program included contributions from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Rector Prof. Ahmet Sacit Acikgozoglu and former Ambassador Prof. Kenan Gursoy, before concluding with a group photograph.
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