Kultusministerkonferenz
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Intangible Cultural Heritage

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) refers to living traditions, knowledge, skills, and expressions—like oral stories, performing arts, rituals, festivals, and crafts—that communities pass down through generations, giving them identity and continuity, and requiring community recognition to be considered heritage.

Was ist unter Immateriellem Kulturerbe zu verstehen?

Intangible Cultural Heritage refers to living traditions actively practiced and passed on by people. It is not physically tangible but consists of knowledge, skills, customs, and forms of expression that are transmitted from generation to generation and continuously reshaped. It includes oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festivals, as well as knowledge and practices concerning nature and traditional craftsmanship. Intangible Cultural Heritage is a defining part of every society.

Friesischer Tee mit Sahnewolke

UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

The UNESCO General Conference adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003 during its 32nd session. In spring 2006, it entered into force after ratification by the first 30 States Parties. The list of States Parties has since grown to 178. Germany acceded to the Convention in 2013.

Several hundred cultural expressions from almost all parts of the world are inscribed by UNESCO in two lists and one register as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The  National Inventory of cultural forms and model programs for safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Germany can be found on the website of the German Commission for UNESCO (DUK), including links to all entries.

Selection Procedure

Practicing bearer communities, such as associations, can submit proposals for the inclusion of their cultural tradition in the Nationwide Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage to the competent ministry of their  federal state. Inclusion in the Nationwide Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage involves a multi-stage procedure. The Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) coordinates the process, with an initial confirmation by the Cultural Affairs Committee. The proposals are then forwarded to the German Commission for UNESCO (DUK), which commissions an expert panel to review them. Subsequently, the proposals are submitted to the Conference of Ministers of Culture for adoption, which confirms them in consultation with the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM).

An application round takes place every two years. Specific dates and details of the procedure are published on the website of the German Commission for UNESCO.

Further information can also be found on the website of the German Commission for UNESCO.

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