Istituto Centrale per il Patrimonio Immateriale

Istituto Centrale per il Patrimonio Immateriale
Name	Istituto Centrale per il Patrimonio Immateriale
Native name	Istituto Centrale per il Patrimonio Immateriale
Established	2007
Type	cultural heritage institute
Location	Rome, Italy
Parent	Direzione Generale Musei

Istituto Centrale per il Patrimonio Immateriale is an Italian public institution dedicated to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. Founded to implement national policy derived from UNESCO instruments and Italian Republic legislation, it operates from Rome with mandates linking cultural practitioners, regional administrations, and international bodies. The institute coordinates inventories, supports nominations to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, and maintains archives that intersect with museums, libraries, and academic research centers.

History

The institute was established following national reforms influenced by UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), directives from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism (Italy), and comparative models from institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, British Museum, and Institut national du patrimoine (France). Early collaborations involved the Italian National Commission for UNESCO, regional cultural councils of Sicily, Puglia, and Tuscany, and academic partners including Sapienza University of Rome, University of Bologna, and Ca' Foscari University of Venice. Its work has intersected with national laws like the Italian law 77/2006 and initiatives promoted by the Council of Europe and the European Commission cultural programs.

Mission and Functions

The institute’s mission aligns with principles articulated by UNESCO and operational frameworks used by institutions such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. Core functions include creating inventories modeled after the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, providing technical support for safeguarding measures used by entities like the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), and advising on nominations akin to those submitted for Palermo’s Mediterranean traditions or Albanian iso-polyphony. It issues guidance used by regional authorities including Lombardy, Campania, and Calabria and liaises with museums such as the Vatican Museums and the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna on integrative curatorial practices.

Organizational Structure

The institute is organized into departments comparable to divisions found in the British Library, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma, and Museo Nazionale del Cinema. Units include an inventory and documentation office, a research and publications office, a conservation and transmission unit, and an education and outreach office. Governance involves oversight from the Direzione Generale Musei and interaction with bodies like the Italian National Commission for UNESCO and regional cultural directorates in Veneto and Emilia-Romagna. Advisory boards have included experts from UNESCO, ICCROM, European Centre for Folk Culture, and universities such as University of Florence.

Collections and Programs

Collections comprise audio-visual archives, fieldwork recordings, and documentary holdings similar to repositories like the British Library Sound Archive, Library of Congress, and Italian Ethnomusicology Archives. Programs include national inventories of craftsmanship akin to lists for Sardinian craft traditions, seasonal festivals comparable to Carnevale di Venezia entries, and support for living traditions such as tarantella, opera dei pupi, and artisanal practices from Carrara marble workshops. Collaborative initiatives have documented rituals in Umbria, culinary customs around Modena and Parma, and artisanal textiles from Prato.

Research and Publications

The institute publishes monographs, catalogues, and periodicals coordinated with academic presses at Bologna University Press and collaborative series with institutions like Einaudi and Il Mulino. Research themes engage ethnography methods used by scholars at University of Naples Federico II and comparative studies referencing collections at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the Folklore Society. Outputs include thematic reports on safeguarding practices, case studies of nominations to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, and technical guidelines aligning with standards from ICOM and UNIDROIT dialogues.

Education and Outreach

Educational initiatives target cultural practitioners, educational institutions such as Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Conservatorio di Milano, and community organizations in provinces like Lecco and Salerno. Outreach leverages exhibitions in venues like the MAXXI and workshops modeled on programs at the Fondazione Prada and Fondazione Giorgio Cini. Training courses have been run in partnership with ENIC-NARIC networks, regional cultural schools, and international trainers from ICCROM and UNESCO.

International Collaboration and Networks

The institute participates in transnational networks including UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and thematic collaborations with the European Commission Creative Europe program. It partners with institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Institut National de l'Audiovisuel, and the Austrian Folklore Institute to exchange methodologies and support nominations to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Bilateral projects have linked Italy with Morocco, Argentina, Japan, and Greece on safeguarding initiatives, and it contributes to capacity-building through conferences hosted with ICCROM, ICOMOS, and the International Council for Traditional Music.

Category:Cultural heritage organizations in Italy