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| National Institute of Cultural Heritage (Cape Verde) | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Institute of Cultural Heritage (Cape Verde) |
| Native name | Instituto do Património Cultural |
| Formation | 1990s |
| Headquarters | Praia, Santiago |
| Region served | Cape Verde |
| Leader title | Director |
| Parent organization | Ministry of Culture (Cape Verde) |
National Institute of Cultural Heritage (Cape Verde) The National Institute of Cultural Heritage (Cape Verde) is a public institution responsible for identification, protection, conservation, and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural assets in Cape Verde. It operates within a network of national and international partners including UNESCO, ICOMOS, ICOM, UNDP, and regional bodies in West Africa and the Macaronesia archipelago. The institute collaborates with municipal authorities such as Praia and Mindelo, with academic partners including the University of Cape Verde and international universities.
The institute traces roots to post-independence cultural policy debates following the 1975 independence of Cape Verde and the formation of institutions inspired by models from Portugal, Brazil, and Mozambique. Early heritage actions were influenced by UNESCO conventions such as the World Heritage Convention and regional initiatives like the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Legislative milestones include national heritage laws modeled after statutes in Portugal and drafting influenced by experts from France, Spain, and Italy. The institute formalized its mandate in the 1990s amid conservation campaigns for colonial-era architecture in Cidade Velha (Cape Verde), ecclesiastical sites such as Nossa Senhora do Rosário Church, and historic urban zones in Ribeira Grande (Santiago). Partnerships with UNESCO World Heritage Centre, African Union, ECOWAS, European Union, CPLP and specialist NGOs like World Monuments Fund shaped programmatic priorities.
The institute's statutory functions encompass inventorying monuments and sites like the Fortaleza Real de São Filipe, regulating interventions at archaeological sites such as Salinas de Pedra de Lume, and safeguarding intangible practices including morna, funaná, and religious festivals tied to Nossa Senhora da Graça. It enforces protective zoning in historic districts such as Ribeira Brava (São Nicolau), issues permits for restoration projects at landmarks like São Vicente (island) lighthouse and promotes museum development including the Museu Etnográfico (São Vicente), Museu da Tabanka, and community archives in Tarrafal (Santiago). The institute also advises ministries including the Ministry of Culture (Cape Verde), the Ministry of Tourism (Cape Verde), and municipal councils across islands like Santo Antão, Fogo, and Brava.
Leadership comprises a directorate supported by departments for archaeology, architecture, intangible heritage, archives, and museums. The institute coordinates with the Direcção-Geral do Património Cultural (Portugal) model and consults boards including representatives from University of Cape Verde, Cabo Verde Airlines cultural programs, and civil society groups such as the Associação Cultural do Mindelo. Field teams operate on islands including Santiago (island), São Vicente (island), Sal (island), Boa Vista (island), and Maio (island), liaising with local heritage committees in Paul (Santo Antão), Santa Catarina (Santiago), and Mosteiros (Fogo). Technical categories include conservation engineers trained in collaboration with institutions like École du Patrimoine Africain and Instituto Superior Técnico.
The institute manages inventories covering archaeological sites on Boa Entrada, colonial-era structures in Cidade Velha (Cape Verde), fortifications such as Forte Real de São Filipe, and industrial heritage like saltpans at Salinas de Pedra de Lume. Museum collections span ethnographic objects from Santo Antão, maritime artifacts connected to Atlantic slave trade routes, ecclesiastical art from Tarrafal de São Nicolau, and audiovisual archives documenting performers like Cesária Évora and composers associated with morna and coladeira. The institute curates movable collections in institutions such as the National Library of Cape Verde and collaborates with the National Archives of Cape Verde for documentary heritage including colonial records, maps showing routes to São Tomé and Príncipe, and records related to figures like Amílcar Cabral. It also monitors cultural landscapes including terraced agriculture in Fogo (island) and volcanic heritage of Pico do Fogo.
Programs prioritize structural stabilization of historic buildings like Palácio da Presidência replicas, restoration of masonry in Cidade Velha (Cape Verde), and preventive conservation for collections referencing standards from ICOMOS charters and training from ICCROM. Emergency response protocols address risks from hazards such as volcanic eruptions on Fogo (island), cyclones affecting Santo Antão, and coastal erosion on Sal (island), often funded through instruments like the European Union Emergency Trust Fund and bilateral aid from Portugal and France. Technical collaborations have included experts from Institut National du Patrimoine (France), Museo del Traje (Spain), and conservation teams linked to Getty Foundation initiatives.
The institute conducts research projects with the University of Cape Verde, international scholars from SOAS, University of London, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, and fieldwork partnerships with the Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência (Portugal). Educational outreach includes school programs in municipalities such as Praia and Mindelo, workshops for traditional craftsmen in Mindelo markets, and oral history projects documenting elders who remember migration to New England and Lisbon. Community engagement initiatives support festivals like the Carnival of Mindelo, craft cooperatives in Brava (island), and intangible heritage transmission for language varieties including Cape Verdean Creole. Publications and exhibitions are produced in collaboration with organizations such as British Museum and Museu do Oriente.
The institute secures support from multilateral agencies including UNESCO, UNDP, World Bank, and regional funds from European Union programs and bilateral cooperation with Portugal, France, Brazil, and Spain. Technical partnerships exist with ICOMOS, ICCROM, Getty Foundation, World Monuments Fund, and the Prince Claus Fund, while exchange programs connect specialists to institutions such as Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Casa de la Cultura de Cabo Verde, and academic centers like Harvard University and University of Coimbra. Funding sources include grant programs from European Commission, philanthropic endowments associated with Ford Foundation, and project-based support from entities like African Development Bank and CPLP cultural initiatives to sustain conservation, digitization, and capacity-building activities.
Category:Culture of Cape Verde Category:Historic preservation organizations