The first international photography competition of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage in Context’ has called for submissions.
The competition is being organized by the Regional Research Center for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in West and Central Asia under the auspices of UNESCO, also known by its shorter name Tehran Intangible Cultural Heritage Center, which was established in November 2012.
In order to promote the concept of intangible cultural heritage and introduce it to a wider audience in West and Central Asia, the Tehran ICH Center has planned the international photo contest, according to the center’s website tichct.org.
Photographers and enthusiasts can participate, in particular those in the midst of local communities and experiencing, interacting and living with instances of intangible cultural heritage.
The subjects of the photo contest include the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills, as well as instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated with local communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals, recognized as within the context of their cultural heritage.
Intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from one generation to another, is regularly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.
It is manifested, inter alia, in the following domains: oral traditions and expressions such as songs, lullabies, story-telling; performing arts like music, dance, traditional theater, puppet plays, painting and calligraphy; social practices, rituals and festive events like mourning ceremonies and weddings. It also includes knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe including medicine, traditional architecture, traditional navigation techniques and traditional methods in utilization of clean energy; and traditional mastery in crafts like pottery, felt-making, weaving arts, metalwork, jewelry and making of musical instruments.
Significance of Intangible Heritage
Participants are required to convey the significance of intangible cultural heritage by its occurrence in the context - the photos should depict the situation and surroundings in which a local community exists, works and interacts with nature.
Accordingly, places such as villages, farms, traditional workshops, traditional places for trading, performing art or a special social custom are included as instances of context.
The deadline for submission of entries is February 18, 2017. They should be sent to photo@tichct.ir. Selected photos will be announced from February 19-24. Finalists and prize-winning participants will be announced by the end of February.
The geographical area assigned to the Tehran ICH Center includes 24 countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan Republic, Bahrain, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
Add new comment
Read our comment policy before posting your viewpoints