National Intangible Heritage Center

National Intangible Heritage Center
Name	National Intangible Heritage Center
Established	2013
Location	Jianbaling, Jeonju, South Korea
Type	Cultural heritage institution

National Intangible Heritage Center is a specialized cultural institution located in Jeonju focused on safeguarding, documenting, and promoting intangible cultural heritage associated with Korea and transnational traditions. The Center operates as a hub for policy implementation linked to UNESCO conventions, collaborates with national bodies such as the Cultural Heritage Administration (South Korea) and regional governments including Jeollabuk-do, and hosts programs involving practitioners from communities like Hanbok" designers and gagok singers. It engages with museums, archives, and academic institutions such as Seoul National University, Korea National University of Arts, and Chonbuk National University to integrate research, education, and preservation.

History

The Center opened in 2013 following policy initiatives by the Cultural Heritage Administration (South Korea) and directives associated with the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, responding to national movements exemplified by lists such as the Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea and programs run by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. Its foundation built on precedents including the National Museum of Korea's outreach, the archival work of the Academy of Korean Studies, and local heritage festivals like the Jeonju International Sori Festival. Early collaborations involved figures and organizations such as UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova (during promotional exchanges), municipal partners in Jeonju City, and practitioner networks that included masters designated under the Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea system.

Mission and Functions

The Center's mission aligns with obligations under the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and national statutes administered by the Cultural Heritage Administration (South Korea), aiming to safeguard traditions ranging from pansori performance to kimchi-making techniques. Core functions include documentation inspired by methods used at institutions like the Smithsonian Institution, inventorying practices comparable to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, and advising policy similar to the roles played by the Japan Folk Crafts Museum and the British Museum in intangible initiatives. It also serves as a meeting venue for stakeholder dialogues akin to conferences organized by ICOMOS and the International Council of Museums.

Organizational Structure

The Center is organized into divisions that mirror structures in cultural institutes such as the National Museum of Ethnology (Japan) and the V&A Museum: a Research and Documentation Division, a Conservation and Transmission Division, a Training and Education Division, and an International Cooperation Division. Leadership interfaces with the Cultural Heritage Administration (South Korea), municipal authorities in Jeonju City, and advisory panels composed of masters listed in the Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea registry. Administrative governance follows models observed in institutions like the National Archives of Korea and coordinates with academic partners including Yonsei University, Korea University, and Hanyang University.

Programs and Activities

Regular programs include inventorying projects modeled on the UNESCO Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage, oral history collection initiatives inspired by the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and skills transmission workshops similar to apprenticeships seen in the Living National Treasures (Japan) system. The Center hosts festivals and demonstration series comparable to the Jeonju International Film Festival's cultural programming and partners with media outlets such as the Korean Broadcasting System for outreach. Capacity-building seminars bring together representatives from institutions like Asia Culture Center, Sejong Institute, and international bodies including UNESCO and the International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (ICHCAP).

Collections and Documentation

Collections emphasize audiovisual recordings, notation, and material culture associated with practices like pansori, nongak, and taekkyeon, archived using standards compatible with repositories such as the National Archives of Korea and the British Library. The Center compiles inventories comparable to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists and collaborates with research institutes including the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage to produce monographs, catalogues, and databases. Conservation protocols align with documentation practices employed by the Smithsonian Institution and digitization efforts mirror projects at the National Diet Library (Japan).

Education and Outreach

Educational initiatives target schools, universities, and community groups in partnerships with Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (South Korea), regional education offices like the Jeollabuk-do Office of Education, and cultural festivals including the Jeonju International Sori Festival. Programs incorporate apprenticeships reminiscent of the Living Human Treasures framework, public lectures featuring scholars from Seoul National University, and collaborative curricula developed with institutions such as Korea National University of Arts and Ewha Womans University. Outreach uses exhibitions, interactive demonstrations, and digital learning platforms inspired by projects at the National Folk Museum of Korea.

International Cooperation and Recognition

The Center engages in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with organizations like UNESCO, ICHCAP, and national bodies such as the Japan Foundation and the British Council to promote cross-border safeguarding, joint research, and traveling exhibitions. It participates in international fora alongside delegations from China, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and members of the Asia-Pacific Network for Intangible Cultural Heritage (APNICH), contributing to listings on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists and receiving recognition echoing awards granted by entities like the Prince Claus Fund and regional cultural prizes. Collaborative outcomes include transnational inventories, practitioner exchanges with institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum of International Folk Art, and joint capacity-building projects supported by multilateral donors.

Category:Korean cultural institutions