International conference: Intangible Cultural Heritage, Museums and Urbanised Society

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International conference: Intangible Cultural Heritage, Museums and Urbanised Society

This International conference on Intangible Cultural Heritage, Museums and Urbanised Society, highlights the influence of urbanity on practices of intangible heritage performed or lived in urban as well as in rural areas. In what ways do rituals, traditions, techniques, et cetera get impacted by their urbanised surroundings and the ever-changing constellations of people who enjoy, perform, enact and transmit these cultural practices? And how can museums be, or become, a partner in the safeguarding efforts of the communities, groups or individuals involved?

During her keynote, Léontine Meijer-van Mensch (Jewish Museum Berlin) will discuss the position of the heritage professional and the non-authoritive approach museums need to adopt when working with practitioners of intangible heritage, taking the Jewish Museum – located in one of the most diverse neighbourhoods of the German capital – as a case study. A second keynote will be presented by Sandro Cattacin (University of Geneva), focussing on transformation of (intangible) heritage in the urbanised context, brought about by migration and by mobility in general.

Eight museum professionals, coming from museums in Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland and The Netherlands will present their initiatives on intangible cultural heritage in urbanised society. These presentations, rooted in different European contexts and museum practices, will provide participants inspiration, and will zoom in on the challenges and barriers that had to be overcome while putting into practice the UNESCO ICH-paradigm in museums.

Furthermore, a panel of Swiss practitioners of intangible heritage will testify about their ideas or experiences on working with museums in the process of safeguarding their heritage. Representatives that practice urban gardening, do Parkour, celebrate the fête des vignerons in Vevey and that have the knowledge of dealing with avalanche risk management, will attend. What do they think about cooperating with museums, or - when they already collaborated - what was their motivation? What wants and needs do they express to the museum, and does cooperation eventually match their expectations? Does collaboration strengthen all parties involved, and in what ways?

Participants to the International conference will be the first to get the opportunity to learn about the co-creation between Stadtmuseum Aarau and game communities, that took place in the context of one of the museum’s projects.

You can find the preliminary program here.

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Entrance fee:

• For members of the Swiss Museums Association: CHF 90
• For non-members of the Swiss Museums Association: CHF 110

Coffee breaks, lunch and diner are included.

The number of participants is limited. The conference language will be English.