Recognizing Our Cultural Heritage. An American and Flemish dialogue

2010, the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures, celebrates the equal dignity of all cultures and seeks to promote mutual respect and cooperation for lasting peace, through dialogue and the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. Recognition is a fundamental cultural process that determines whether communities, groups or individuals incorporate expressions, practices and representations as elements of their intangible cultural heritage. The exhibition presented at UNESCO from 7 to 26 April 2010 (Salle des pas perdus) illustrates the importance of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in the 21st century because of the sense of continuity and collective identity it provides communities.

The exhibition features 46 human-scale portraits, six series of photographs illustrating practices or customs related to intangible heritage, and six documentary films directed by Alan Govenar. It will be opened on 7 April at 6.30 pm by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, with David Killion, Permanent Delegate of the United States of America, and Nic Vandermarliere, Delegate of the Flemish Government to France.

Two non-governmental organizations, FARO (Flanders, Belgium) and Documentary Arts (USA), are organizing the photo exhibition. It will be complemented by musical performances by Cajun singer and violinist Michael Doucet and the Flemish music group, Klakkebusse.

Parts of this exhibition will be travelling in Flanders (Belgium) in the second half of 2010 and will be the occasion for a series of colloquia, workshops and discussions about safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and the 2003 UNESCO convention.