We often talk about cultural heritage, protection and safeguarding. But are we sure we are clear about what it is? This is why we asked those who know more than us, such as Professor Leandro Ventura
Leandro Ventura was born and raised in Rome, but its origins are in the middle of the Mediterranean. The mother, in fact, is from Liguria, while the father is from Salento. Leandro is an art historian, he taught in various professorships from Sapienza in Rome to Ca 'Foscari in Venice, until he became the director of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, with the position of director of the Central Institute for Intangible Heritage , an office that collaborates and supports some communities that are preparing nominations for UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
What is the difference between tangible and intangible cultural heritage
In 1972 the Unesco Convention took into consideration only material assets as the cultural heritage of a territory. Later a reflection also began on the equally important intangible aspects of culture. Thus, in 2003 the Intangible Cultural Heritage was included and defined as "the set of practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, know-how – as well as tools, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated with them – which communities, groups and in some cases individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. This intangible cultural heritage, passed down from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history and gives them a sense of identity and continuity, thereby promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity. The Intangible Cultural Heritage is manifested through traditions and oral expressions, including language, as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage; the performing arts; social customs, ritual and festive events; knowledge and practices relating to nature and the universe; traditional crafts ".
How to become an Intangible Cultural Heritage
There are many assets of this type, especially in Italy. For this, they must have two main characteristics: the particularity and theuniqueness. Once these have been identified, the first step to take, continues Professor Ventura, is the recognition of the heritage directly by the community, that is, someone needs to recognize the value and propose it in a representative list, which would be the theme, the typology that defines and precisely represents it. Among these there are some more well-known such as mountaineering, falconry, the Mediterranean diet, the opera of the puppets, or other new ones such as that of the Elements in danger, which the Feast of the Serpari of Cocullo, in Abruzzo (where snakes are caught and captured for the occasion to cover the statue of San Biagio); or, again, awaiting acceptance there is the Tocatì of Verona, the International Street Games Festival, which was proposed for the list of good practices for safeguarding the playful heritage (always intangible). Subsequently, the reference community must proceed with the drafting of a rather complex dossier and finally send the candidacy to Paris, where it awaits approval. When and if the proposal is accepted, the property is cataloged and over the years it must comply with the criteria initially proposed by the community itself.
The criteria to be respected
Once the asset to be protected has been identified, one of the most difficult and complex aspects to manage is the definition of community. Often, in fact, it is a question of various bodies, the same ones that must deal with safeguarding over time, that is, compliance with the criteria initially established at the time of application. The larger the communities, the more complex everything becomes, as for example in the case of goods like the Transhumance or the Mediterranean diet, which are not limited to a municipality or region, but cross international borders. In any case, there are many assets, the important thing is that they always have and above all maintain over time the two characteristics that define them first and foremost and that we mentioned earlier, namely the particularity and uniqueness.
Some examples of Intangible Cultural Heritage
In Italy there are various examples of intangible cultural heritage, also because it is a very rich country from the cultural and anthropological point of view, which, fortunately, continues to keep some customs alive. Among these we remember the Song of the Sardinian Tenores or theOpera dei Pupi in Palermo and in Sicily in general, where an important promotional activity is underway for the few remaining puppeteers. Most notable, according to Professor Ventura, is the Piedmontese wine landscape Langhe-Roero and Monferrato, a truly interesting world heritage site, "where we are working well", he continues. Among the intangible assets in the agri-food sector, however, in addition to the best known Prosecco and recently art tradition of Neapolitan pizza makers, there is the sapling vine of Pantelleria, an ancient form of cultivation of the vine, in particular of the white grape Zibibbo, present in the small vineyards scattered throughout the island. And then, finally, a product currently being applied for in this period: the cavataura and the search for truffles. Do you think he will make it?
