Towards an Integrative Approach to the Safeguarding of Living Heritage: Programmes of the Center for the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Serbia and the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade

Abstract

The inscription of the element of living heritage in the National Registry of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is managed by the Center for the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Serbia at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade, can be observed as just one step in the work on safeguarding social practices and skills, transmitted from generation to generation, that have been maintained to this day and represent an important constituent of identity of the communities and groups of practitioners. Although safeguarding of living heritage depends primarily on the willingness of the bearers to work on further recreation and transmission of knowledge and skills, cooperation between those who inherit this heritage and custodian institutions can contribute to raising awareness of the importance of further practicing of ICH and increase in number of bearers. Starting from the UNESCO concept of living heritage, I will systematically present programmes of the Center for the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Ethnographic Museum, which are aimed at establishing and strengthening cooperation with bearers, local communities, as well as other interested parties in order to work together on presentation and education about the elements of living heritage. Therewithal, I will analyze these safeguarding programmes in the broader context of changes that have occurred in contemporary museology, which include consideration and redefinition of the role of museums in society, expansion of spectrum of museum activities, and transformation of museum audiences from passive observers to active participants and creators of content.