Workshop on Community-based Inventorying of Intangible Cultural Heritage

A Workshop on Community-based Inventorying of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) will be held by the PNG National Culture Commission (NCC) in Alotau, the Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.

The Workshop will bring together some 30 participants ranging from ICH custodians, traditional leaders, senior officials responsible for ICH safeguarding, NGOs, community-based organisations, to faith-based organisations, from the southern provinces of the country in order to provide them with training in community-based ICH inventorying.

The Milne Bay Province comprises more than 600 islands and some 50 languages are spoken. Traditions and culture remain strong especially in the Trobriand Islands. The kula exchange, a ceremonial exchange system conducted in the Trobriand Islands, is a unique tradition that has created communication and social systems across the islands through exchange of valuables, such as bracelets and necklaces made of shells.

This workshop will be the third activity hosted by PNG within the framework of UNESCO's regional capacity building programme financed under the UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust.