ICCN (Page 14)

Greetings
By Myeong-hee Choi
ICCN Representative
Mayor of Gangneung, Korea
Publisher
Myeong-hee Choi
ICCN Secretariat
It gives me great pleasure to inform you of the ICCN meeting that will be held in a
beautiful city of Kingston, Jamaica in September this year. I would like to take this
opportunity to thank Mayor Desmond McKenzie for his enormous efforts for hosting the
ICCN meeting.
Editorial Staff
Maribelle D. Bimohya
Seok-je Lee
Address
1001 Hongje-dong,
Gangneung city,
Gangwon-do, 210-703
Tel:+82-33-640-5475
Fax:+82-33-640-4756
www.iccn.or.kr
e-mail:[email protected]
The Jamaican meeting has great significance, as it will be the first meeting after the
official founding of the ICCN in 2008. As you all know, the ICCN is the only
international organization at the local government level in the world pertaining to
Intangible Cultural Heritage. Through this meeting, I have an expectation that the ICCN
will be presented throughout the world in its uniqueness and expertise at the global level.
It is another positive sign that the UNESCO Kingston Cluster office for the Caribbean
will join us in the meeting. Additionally, we will invite some prominent international
organizations with which we will create a cooperative project for mutual benefits. I
sincerely encourage you to be part of this historic movement by joining this gathering,
and sharing your ideas among us all.
Under the main theme of the "Local Government at the forefront of preserving
Intangible Cultural Heritage, we will also be discussing "Definition of a community and
its capacity building by the local government" as a sub-theme.
As you all know, the safeguarding of heritage must involve the active participation of
local communities. They can be the main force of safeguarding activities, and also the
facilitator of awareness-raising. Through this meeting, I hope that we will provide the
communities with necessary support to ensure consolidation of their efforts in the
safeguarding activities. Hopefully, we will be able to set up a future joint meeting with
communities relevant to our safeguarding goals for effective cooperation with each other.
I am confident that this gathering will make relationships and friendships among us
more solid than ever before, which will eventually lead to the further development of the
ICCN and all its members.
I look forward very much to meeting you all at the upcoming ICCN meeting in
Jamaica.
I hope the change of seasons in the "City that hath foundation" will have a lasting
impact on us all.
Thank you all so much!
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Invitation from Jamaica
By Desmond McKenzie
Mayor of Kingston, Jamaica
The City of Kingston and
of Kingston and St. Andrew
Inter-City Intangible Cultural
International Workshop of
September 15-17, 2009.
the wider amalgamated Municipality
is honored to be asked to host the
Cooperation Network’s (ICCN) 2009
Local Government Administrators,
We recognize the extreme importance of this international event, as reflected in its theme –Local
Government at the forefront of preserving our Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the City is poised
to take on the challenge of hosting what should be one of the most successful ICCN workshops,
ever.
I say this because we will be hosting this event on the heels of our annual national celebration
of Independence, and in the midst of the most fundamental Local Government Reform programme
initiated anywhere in the English-speaking Caribbean.
On August sixth, Jamaica will celebrate 47 years of Independence from Britain and, as usual,
this landmark will involve all levels of the multi-cultural Jamaican society, as well as include the
celebration of our traditional customs and cultural successes including music, dance and theatre.
Unfortunately, we have been forced to extend the period of Local Government Reform, which
should have ended in September, to June, 2010. However, this was necessary in order to allow for
the entrenchment of Local Government in the Jamaican Constitution, as part of the reform
process.
In the meantime, we have continued the process, including developing a Councillor’s handbook,
as a reference material for Local Government representatives and employees, and we have drafted
important reform bills covering governance, the financial management of the Councils and the
employment of staff.
So, it is obvious that you will be in Kingston at a very significant time in the City’s history
and, hopefully, it will offer you the opportunity to share in the discussions on our reform process,
as well as share in the celebration of our rich cultural history.
I am sure that in this environment, there will be a lot to learn, as well as a lot to enjoy.
I guarantee you our City will welcome you with open arms, and that you will enjoy our
warmth and hospitality, while you learn about Local Government structure and explore our unique
intangible cultural heritage.
See you in September!
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2009 ICCN International Workshop of
Local Government Administrators
The ICCN meeting will be held in Kingston, Jamaica on September 15–17, 2009 under the
theme of “Local Government at the forefront of preserving our Intangible Cultural heritage”
■ Theme
- 1st Session : A city that has a foundation expanding Intangible Cultural Heritage in
the 21st Century.
- 2nd Session : Intangible Cultural Heritage : Definition of a community and its capacity
building by the local government.
■ Date and Venue
- Date : September 15-17, 2009
- Venue : Jamaica Conference Center 14-20 Port Royal Street, Kingston, Jamaica
■ Organizers
- Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), Kingston Jamaica
- Inter-City Intangible Cultural Cooperation Network (ICCN)
■ Cooperation
-
UNESCO Kingston Cluster Office for the Caribbean
Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT)
Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC)
European Union (EU)
■ Provisional Schedule
Date
Activities
Remarks
Sept 14
Welcome Reception
All participants
Sept 15
Arrival of participants
Opening Ceremony
-Opening speeches
-Keynote speech
1st Session
-Presentation/Discussion on the sub- theme
“A city that has a foundation expanding intangible
cultural heritage in the 21st Century”
2nd Session
-Presentation/Discussion on the sub- theme
“Intangible Cultural Heritage : Definition of a community
and its capacity building by the local government”
Closing
-Declaration
-Closing ceremony
Sept 16
Sept 17
Sept 18
Tours
Ceremony
Departures
To neighboring towns that display great historical wealth
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All about Jamaica
By Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation
The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation
is an amalgamation of the two Parishes:
Kingston and St. Andrew. Kingston was
established in 1692 after the destruction of
Port Royal. The parish and country capital
of Kingston is the hub of business and
entertainment, while St. Andrew consists of
urban and rural settlements. The two Parishes
were amalgamated in 1923 for the purpose
of Civic Administration.
The administrative functions of the KSAC are
carried out through five main departments:
Technical Services Division; Financial Management
and Accounting; Administration and Human
Resources; Community Welfare and Municipal
Services; Inspection Enforcement and Security.
The administrative head of the organization is the
Town Clerk. Administrative officers are appointed
through the Municipal Service Commission.
For the purpose of Political and Civic
Administration, the parish is divided into
fifteen (15) Political Constituencies that are
further subdivided into Forty (40) Electoral
Divisions. The affairs of the parish are
managed by a full time administrative staff
responsible for policy implementation and a
political responsible for policy formulation.
- Location
The KSAC can be found at 24 Church Street
at the corner of Church and Tower Street in
Downtown Kingston.
- Population
The population of both Kingston and Saint
Andrew is 666, 182.
- Administrative distribution
The political directorate consists of forty councillors.
Councillors are elected to office once every three
(3) years; through Local Government Elections
held under Universal Adult Suffrage. The Mayor
who is chosen from the elected councillors heads
the political directorate. The political party having
the majority of elected members of the Council
has the right to select (from their numbers) the
person to be Mayor. The KSAC operates through
a system of committees. These committees are
responsible for policy formulation on matters
ranging from Finance to Discipline. A chairperson
heads each committee. A General Purpose Committee
consisting of the chairpersons of all committees
forms the equivalent of a Cabinet of the Council.
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- Cultural activities
Dance
Dance has always been important on Jamaica
- from colonial times until the present. Early
folk rhythms and movements often enhanced
Christian religious celebrations, or were associated
with Christian holidays. More recently, dances
have become associated with the music of
Jamaica, particularly dancehall styles.
More than 30 distinctive Jamaican dances
have been identified. According to the National
Library of Jamaica, traditional Jamaican dances
fall roughly under three categories: African
derived,
European
derived
and
Creole.
Dancehall, or ragga, music has inspired a
The
number of dance styles as well. To understand
Africa derived dance tradition is divided into
two types: religious dances and social dances.
the evolution of popular dance, it helps to
understand the musical progression. Ska music,
Religious African dances, such as the ritualistic
with fast beats, also had fast dances. The slow
Kumina, Myal and Pocomania, are integral
parts of worship ceremonies. The aim is to
to rocksteady also developed slower dances,
allowing dancers to stay on the floor longer.
bring the dancers into the realm of the spiritual
Reggae
and heighten their readiness for possession. This
part of Jamaica's African heritage has mainly
including the Rastafarian movement, but
influenced the newer styles. Dancehall music
been preserved by the Maroon Communities.
often creates its own dances based on moves
Social African derived dances include Etu,
Quadrille and Maypole (originally religious but
in the lyrics of the songs themselves. Soca
music from Trinidad and Tobago is popular
now mainly social).
with
The Jamaican Creole dances integrate elements
from both European and African cultures.
Examples
are
Jonkonnu,
Bruckin's,
Revival,
is
most
associated
of
the
with
many
popular
artists
things,
from
Trinidad, but many soca Jamaican artist such
as Byron Lee, Fab 5, and Lovindeer are famous
but also represent Jamaican music.
Pukkumina (possibly the best-known Revival
(religious) style which still exists today) and
Dinkie mini, a dance in the Wake Complex of
traditional dances. Social dances that are
European derived include those that accompanied
Clonmel Cultural Club-Brukins
Party-Class 5 (contributed by JCDC)
work songs and ring games.
Dance is also represented during the Jamaican
Hosay, a Caribbean East Indian festival. Jonkonnu
and Hosay are considered secular dances, despite
the performance of Jonkonnu around Christmas
time.
Dance theater is also growing in importance.
This dance was performed traditionally to
celebrate the anniversary of the Emancipation
from slavery on the first of August 1838.
Bruckin’s Party comprise a retinue of dancers
costumed in Blue and Red involving Kings,
Queens, Sergeant-Major, captains, grand daughters
who perform as a part of the contest, especially
King and Queen of each set.
Rex Nettleford, Eddy Thomas, Olive Lewin,
and Edna Manley are four Jamaicans whose
influences on the arts - music and dance in
particular - has been extremely important.
Nettleford, Thomas, and Ivy Baxter formed the
National Dance Theatre Company in the 1950s.
Other important Jamaicans in dance theater
have included the Tony-Award- winning
choreographer Garth Fagan (The Lion King on
Broadway).
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The main movement of the dance is the dip of
the body using the feet as the arms move across
the chest in an upward movement and a wheel
and turn of the body. Music is made by drums
and vocalization Bruckin’s Party is found only in
the Parish of Portland and is now performed
mainly for the JCDC Festival of the Arts.
Hayes Pri.& Jnr. High Clarendon Quadrille
CS (contributed by JCDC)
Dinki Mini Clonmel Culture Club-Rex
(contributed by JCDC)
Both dances are of African origin of the wake
tradition and are usually performed after the
death of a person up until ninth night. Dinki
Mini sessions are normally used to cheer the
bereaved. It is called Gerreh or Wake in the
Western end of the Island and Dinki Mini and
Zella in St. Mary and Portland respectively.
Quadrille is a ballroom set dance which is
originated in the courts of Europe and was
danced in Jamaica by the gentry during slavery.
There are two styles in the ballroom and the camp
style –the former European, the latter is the
creolized version. Mento Bands accompany these
dances playing a variety of traditional European
tunes except for the fifth figure which employs
the Mento, the first music created by Jamaican.
Music
Jamaica has made tremendous contribution
to culture via music. Our music includes the
melodies of yesteryear which include Mento,
Pocomania, Nyahbingi, Ska, Rocksteady these
have influenced today's music which creates
the unique sound we hear, generically called
reggae.
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Reggae as explained in the Encyclopedia of
Jamaican Heritage by Olive Senior ‘is a
combination of communication, reggae means
real music that tells a good story, music you
can relate to, music you can make sense of.’
Jamaican folk music along with many of the
more popular genres, such as mento, ska,
rocksteady, reggae, dub music, dancehall gives
the music the fusion and allow artistes to
develop related styles that complement each
other. Jamaica's music culture is a fusion of
elements from the United States (rhythm and
blues, rock and roll, soul), Africa and
neighboring Caribbean islands such as Trinidad
calypso and Soca. Reggae has become and is
more often than not the face of Jamaica
especially popular through the international
success of Bob Marley and the wailers, Peter
Tosh, and others. Jamaican music has influenced
many musical styles in other countries for
example, the practice of ‘toasting’, which was
brought to New York City and evolved into
rapping. British genres as ‘Lovers rock and
jungle music’ are influenced by Jamaican music.
Jamaica is a musical island. Jamaica music is
known worldwide thanks to Bob Marley’s ‘One
Love’ and Sean Paul’s ‘Get Busy’, not to
mention Jimmy Cliff’s ‘You Can Get It If You
Really Want It’and a host of others that makes
coming to Jamaica and arriving at the airport
in Kingston an extraordinary, edu-taining
vacation or business trip.
- Tourist Attractions
Devon House
One of Jamaica’s leading national monuments
and a symbol of the cultural diversity, which
makes this island a unique choice for thousands
of visitors. This 127 year old site located in the
heart of metropolis Kingston, Jamaica’s capital.
The early history of Devon House dates back
to the mid seventeenth century when Britain
captured Jamaica from Spain.
(Devon House)
The Bob Marley Museum
The Bob Marley Museum portrays the life,
work, and achievements of this phenomenal
artiste. Bob Marley Museum is located along
Hope Road in the former residence of the Hon.
Robert Nesta Marley. The structure has two
storeys, the lower being masonry and the upper
of timber. The original plan of the building was
basically rectangular with a projecting portiere
of the building having a room above and
carport below. Above the main portion of the
building is a tipped roof with an engaged gable
segment covering the portico.
The building is the original house and still
manifests many of the period's characteristics
such as the broad mouldings, the handmade
wooden stair handrails and the lattice work
throughout with unique arched shaped doorway
and sash windows. The servants' quarters are to
the rear of the building. The Museum houses
memorabilia of the Legendary Reggae Singer.
Reggae music is identifiable with Jamaica's
culture internationally, and the Museum provides
a glimpse into this aspect of our musical
culture.
- 7 -
(the Emancipation square in Spanish Town)
Spanish Town
Spanish Town, built by the Spanish after Sevilla
Nueva (New Seville) was abandoned, dates from
1534. It was first known as Villa de la Vega,
later St. Jago de la Vega and then Spanish
Town. The town is the oldest continuously
inhabited city in Jamaica. It was the capital of
Spanish Jamaica from 1534 to 1655. When the
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English captured the island in 1655, Spanish
Town remained the capital of the island until
1872 when this status was conferred on Kingston.
Spanish Town still possesses memories of the
past with its many historical buildings. The
Emancipation Square is generally acclaimed to
be the most impressive of its kind in the West
Indies.
Q & A : Deputy Mayor of Rotorua
Trevor Maxwell
1. What do you like most about your job
Feeling as though I am making a difference for my own people
(Maori) and for the community.
2. What is your approach to problem solving?
I try and apply a common sense approach, keeping an open mind
while I listen to other’s points of view, before suggesting a
solution that might satisfy the majority.
3. What are three top service tips?
a) A warm welcome
b) Enjoyment and having a sense a humour
c) Having a professional approach
4. Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
Former Speaker of the House in NZ Parliament
and former Deputy Mayor of Rotorua, Sir
Peter Tapsell. Also, Nelson Mandela.
11. What is the best piece of advice you have
5. How long have you been living in Rotorua?
All my life.
12. Where would you like to be in 10 years time?
Still living in Rotorua, and still travelling
the world!
6. What is your favorite novel or films?
Favourite movies are ‘Ghost’, ‘Sound of
Music’ and ‘Elvis in Blue Hawaii’
7. What is your favorite place?
Hawaii and Spain
8. Who is the one person you would most
like to meet and
President of the United States of America, Barak
Obama, because I admire his achievements, role
model, and family values.
ever been given?
Always treat people as you would like to
be treated yourself.
13. What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
Losing my wife two and half years ago –
my world was tipped up-side-down. Having
to cope and start all over again.
14. How do you spend your weekends?
Relaxing with family, enjoying sport on
‘Live’ television, and leading Maori culture
rehearsals with my group.
9. What is your favorite sound?
Sound of the Acoustic Guitar.
15. What do you like most about Rotorua?
Our multi-racial harmony, the geothermal
environment, our beautiful lakes and forests,
being a leading tourism centre in New
Zealand (and the world)!
10. What is your greatest ambition?
To keep a good work/life balance
(family/health/social/spiritual).
16. What are your aims for 2009?
Supporting my daughter at university, and
my son in his creative job in Wellington, NZ.
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Intangible Culture in Life – Coffee Story
The story of how coffee growing and drinking spread around the world is one of the
greatest and most romantic in history. It starts in the Horn of Africa, in Ethiopia, where the
coffee tree probably originated in the province of Kaffa. There are various fanciful but
unlikely stories surrounding the discovery of the properties of roasted coffee beans. One story
has it that an Ethiopian goatherd was amazed at the lively behaviour of his goats after
chewing red coffee berries. What we know with more certainty is that the succulent outer
cherry flesh was eaten by slaves taken from present day Sudan into Yemen and Arabia,
through the great port of its day, Mocha, now synonymous with coffee. Coffee was certainly
being cultivated in Yemen by the 15th century and probably much earlier than that.
But the Arabs had a strict policy not to export any fertile beans, so that coffee could not
be cultivated anywhere else. The coffee bean is the seed of the coffee tree, but when stripped
of its outer layers it becomes infertile. The race to make off with some live coffee trees or
beans was eventually won by the Dutch in 1616, who brought some back to Holland where
they were grown in greenhouses.
Initially, the authorities in Yemen actively encouraged coffee drinking as it was considered
preferable to the extreme side effects of Kat, a shrub whose buds and leaves were chewed as
a stimulant. The first coffeehouses were opened in Mecca and were called 'kaveh kanes'.
They quickly spread throughout the Arab world and became successful places where chess
was played, gossip was exchanged, and singing, dancing and music were enjoyed. They were
luxuriously decorated and each had an individual character. Nothing quite like the
coffeehouse had existed before: a place where society and business could be conducted in
comfortable surroundings and where anyone could go, for the price of coffee.
- 10 -
COFFEE COMES TO ASIA
The Dutch were also growing coffee at Malabar in India, and in 1699 took some to Batavia in
Java, in what is now Indonesia. Within a few years the Dutch colonies had become the main
suppliers of coffee to Europe. Today Indonesia is the fourth largest exporter of coffee in the
world.
COFFEE COMES TO EUROPE
Venetian traders first brought coffee to Europe in 1615. This was a period when the two other
great hot beverages also appeared in Europe. Hot chocolate was the first, brought by the Spanish
from the Americas to Spain in 1528; and tea, which was first sold in Europe in 1610.
At first coffee was mainly sold by lemonade vendors and was believed to have medicinal
qualities. The first European coffeehouse opened in Venice in 1683, with the most famous, Caffe
Florian in Piazza San Marco, opening in 1720. It is still open for business today.
COFFEE COMES TO THE AMERICAS
The first reference to coffee being drunk in North America is from 1668 and, soon after, coffee
houses were established in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and other towns.
It was in the 1720s that coffee first came to be cultivated in the Americas, through Gabriel
Mathieu de Clieu, a French naval officer serving in Martinique.
But it was the Dutch who first started the spread of the coffee plant in Central and South
America, where today it reigns supreme as the main continental cash crop.
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Coffee first arrived in the Dutch colony of Surinam in 1718, to be followed by plantations
in French Guyana and the first of many in Brazil at Para. In 1730 the British introduced
coffee to Jamaica, where today the most famous and expensive coffee in the world is
grown in the Blue Mountains.
A SUMMARY OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE
Of all the physiological effects of coffee, the best known is that it is a stimulant to the
nervous system. One or two cups of coffee can make one feel more awake, alert and able
to concentrate. Caffeine has been shown to counteract fatigue and restore flagging
performance. The vast bulk of scientific and epidemiological evidence points to the
conclusion that normal, regular consumption of coffee and caffeine containing beverages is
not associated with heart or cardiovascular diseases, damage to the foetus, benign breast
disease or cancer of any kind.
COFFEE BECAME A PART OF LIFE AND CULTURE
Nobody can say coffee is just a beverage for drinking. It is one of the most important
methods to make a conversation and relation to people. Whenever your guests visit your
office or your house, you might say “Would you drink a cup of coffee?”and if you need
break time, you may think a cup of coffee. It is a absolutely good example that coffee is
a part of your life and living culture.
How about having break time with a cup of coffee! That makes your life enrich!
(This is quoted from International Coffee Organization: www.ico.org)
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EUROMED DIALOGUE NIGHT
By Ilaria Puccio
COPPEM
The "Euromed Dialogue Night" was established
into the campaign "1001 Actions for Dialogue"
launched by the Anna Lindh Foundation in 2008.
held in Piazza Bologna, in the heart of Palermo,
and began at 20.00 and has lasted up to 2.00
in the night.
The first edition of "Night" involved over 100
Euromed City among wich Barcelona, Athens,
Rabat, Amman ,Tripoli (Lebanon), Murcia, to
name but a few.
The COPPEM, as the main partner of the Anna
Lindh Foundation in the "Night of Dialogue",
took care of the dissemination among the members
of its network and of the organization of the
night near the town of Palermo. In Particular in
Palermo they are organized: 2 Dialogue nignts
(one in palermo on 22nd of may and one in
Bagheria on the 23rd of may); 3 conferences on
Intercultural Dialogue; 4 laboratories (food,
crafts, multimedia); 4 exhibitions (photography,
social projects, etc..), 4 Concerts (of which one
final all night long).
“EUROMEDITERRANEAN DIALOGUE NIGHT”
CONCERT 2009
Participated Tinturia, Kaiorda, Matri Mia,
Dasvidania, Serenella, Luca Madonia e Toni
Carbone, Le Cri de l'Afrique, Bottega Retro,
Fala Brasil, Lorre, Famiglia del Sud, Massimo
Montaina e Qbeta.
RESULTS AND FOLLOW UP
On 22 May 2009, in cooperation with Ubuntu,
COPPEM renewed his appointment with the
concert "Euromed Dialogue Night." The
concert, which was attended by various artists
with different both artistic and cultural
backgrounds, sought to be a metaphor of the
melting pot and intercultural dialogue: it was, in
fact, characterized by long jam sessions that
involved the three thousand people who
gathered to fill the square in songs and dances
up in the middle of the night. The event was
The results of the activities are primarily related
to awareness of the community of Palermo
(immigrant and native) about the themes of
promotion of 'intercultural dialogue and the
valorization of differences.
The event produced a wide documentation to
support the activity.
In fact it is expected to realize an exhibition
party of video and picture of the event, open to
the public.
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Introduction of Member’s Culture
Vlčnov, Czech Republic
The Ride of the Kings
The Ride of the Kings is a traditional horseback procession that was once widely performed
across Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia. It now survives in just five or six Moravian villages
and on the last weekend of May each year the biggest and brightest parade takes place at
Vlčnov, near Uherské Hradiště.
The ride has its roots in the old Christian festival of Whitsuntide, but has evolved to tell
the story of Hungarian King Matthias Corvin, who fled via Vlčnov, Kunovice and Hluk to his
stronghold at Trenčin after being defeated in battle at Bilovec in 1469 by his father-in-law
(and Bohemian King) Jíři of Poděbrady.
The central role in the event is played by the brightest 10-12 year old boy of the village
who is chosen by his peers to represent the king. Mounted on a white horse, he’s disguised in
the traditional ceremonial dress of the region’s ladyfolk and holds a rose between his teeth to
symbolize the silence of the Hungarian King’s escape. His two sabre-wielding bodyguards are
similarly attired and they are accompanied by an entourage of 15-20 callers or criers, also on
horseback and wearing traditional male regional costume, or “Kroje”. The horses are draped
with embroidered saddlecloths and hundreds of brightly-coloured flowers and ribbons and the
whole thing is an amazingly colourful spectacle.
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The festivities begin on Friday night with traditional music in the wine cellars (boudy) and
continue on the Saturday with dance and more wine. but the culmination of the weekend is
the Sunday. The day begins with presentations of this years participants to the mayor and the
general public The ride itself begins in the late morning when all the riders have made their
way through the crowd assembled outside the king’s house and the improbably costumed
lad has been lifted onto his steed. Led by a flagbearer (an experienced horseman older than
the criers, who are usually aged 18) the king and his party then set out for the centre of the
village, and the spectators follow or are swept along.
The procession winds through the streets and lanes and the criers collect money from the
crowd for their king who has fallen into difficult circumstances. They call traditional or
improvised rhymes to encourage donations, and the wittier the verse, the higher should be the
donation. The standard beginning is “Máme krale chudobného ale poctivého” (we have a king
poor but chaste) and you’ll hear things like; “Za fotečku, do botečkou” “For a photo-shoot,
into the boot” (where the donations are carried) or “Tento pan pěkně směje, jistě mě něco
do boty přispěje”, “Smiling widely is that man; contribute something, sure he can!” It’s pretty
poor form not to donate if you’re singled out, so it’s good to have some 20Kč coins along
with you for the purpose.
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A Nameless Person’s Poignant View
DANTE and the CARPENTER
The story goes that our greatest poet Dante was strolling one day along the cobblestones
of some village or other. I can just see him, with his hands behind his back seeking
inspiration with his eyes and his entire sense alert to beauty. It is said that upon turning a
sharp corner he got a terrible shock at hearing an awful racket from a carpenter’s shop:
That offence to his ears was none of others’ but part of his divine composition.
Blind with rage and following his impulse (thus confirming his Tuscan origins) he stormed
into the carpenter’s shop and started breaking everything he could get his hands on. The
poor carpenter was paralyzed at the fury of the intruder and then, recognizing him (in the
Middle Ages poets and writers enjoyed rather more fame and reputation than they do
now!), asked him for an explanation – though only after bringing the impetus of the great
man to a halt.
Dante – so they say – after calming down and abandoning his truculent stance, gave him
the following talking-to : “My dear carpenter, it took me a great deal of time, care and
dedication – practically everything I knew –to compose these verses, and I am certainly not
prepared to hear them totally destroyed by the first chap who comes along. So when I
heard you reciting my Commedia, I decided that I would destroy your work just like you
were destroying mine!” then – it is told –he looked around smugly at the planes and
squares thrown around in a sea of sights.
But let’s come briefly back to us, and remember that we’re only supposed to be speaking
about culture. So here is the moral of the tale, connected with culture: why do you think
some cultural masters or specialists should preserve and keep their heritages decade after
decade with few earning and some cultural masters or specialists focus on not the real
cultural promotion but their honor and extra profits.
Well, since we won’t and can’t recommend strong-arm methods, we shall merely reply to
our query.
An answer immediately springs to mind: it’s a matter of master-spirit and
tradition.
So this is an appeal to cultural masters, to take back possession of a master-spirit and a
tradition which they allowed to slip through their hands, and to all those who think that
change is always for the better.
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ICCN UPDATE
■ New MAYOR OF PÉCS, HUNGARY
Mr. Zsolt Páva was elected as a Mayor of Pécs on May 10, 2009.
He, born in 1955, was a deputy mayor of Pécs in 1990-94, and a mayor in
1994-98. He is married with three children, speaks English fluently and has a basic
knowledge of German.
All of the ICCN members express congratulations to Mr. Zsolt Páva on his victory, and
expect him to join the safeguarding activities of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The
by-election was held after the Mayor Péter Tasnádi passed away on January 27, 2009.
■ New Core Members of the ICCN
ICCN has two more new Core Members, which are Musina, South Africa (Mayor Caroline
Mahasela) and Kalivia, Greece( Mayor Petros I. Filippou ).
■ International Intangible Cultural Forum, Gangneung, Korea
The International Intangible Cultural Forum was held from May
28-29, 2009 in Gangneung, Korea under the umbrella of the
Intercultural Dialogue Night by COPPEM. With the participation from
Foreign Embassies, Foreign Chamber of Commerce, Foreign & Local
Entrepreneur, and Experts in cultural organizations, they discussed the
"Role of Administration, Culture and Business in the safeguarding and
promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage". The Keynote speech was
given by Anthropologist Dr.Sangmee about the general concept and
values of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In the meeting, ICCN Secretariat suggested a model for a cooperative
relationship building among the parties concerned. The support through
CSR(Corporate Social Responsibility) was suggested as one of the
effective tools for the safeguarding activities of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
UNESCO UPDATE
■ Intergovernmental Committee Meeting in September
The 4th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural
Heritage will take place in Abu Dhabi of United Arab Emirates.
It will be held from Sept. 29 to October 2. The agenda includes selection of safeguarding
programmes, projects, activities and so on. The most important activity will be the inscription of
intangible cultural heritage elements on the Urgent Safeguarding List and Representative List.
- 17 -
ICCN Member’s Cultural Events
Pécs, Hungary
Dancing Evenings in the Downtown
10 June – 26 August 2009
Alongside all these, the productions held on
the stages erected in the immediate vicinity of
This program series offer a trulyintercultural
milieu and vibrant summer evening atmosphere
every Wednesday at 7 pm. on Theatre Square,
the world heritage sites throughout the festival
conjure up a teeming hustle and bustle around
the monuments.
through integration the folk music and dancing
traditions of Hungarian ethnic groups, the
various ethnic groups living in Pécs, Baranya
and the wider region, and occasionally those
of Europe and beyond.
www.oroksegfestival.hu
www.pecsikult.hu
Cultural Heritage Days
19-20 September 2009
Every September during the Cultural Heritage
Days visitors can feast their eyes on the most
beautiful
and
interesting
examples
of
our
Heritage Festival – Pécs Days
17-27 September 2009
architectural heritage. Our institute has joined
The festival includes several types of programs
architectural treasures by temporarily opening
and its region –the Ethnic Minorities Days, the
to them the gates of buildings that otherwise
the European movement whose objective is to
divert the public’s attention to cultural and
representing the rich cultural heritage of Pécs
cannot be visited.
Festival of Vine and Wine and others.
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14th European Convivial Wine Song
Festival 25-27 September 2009
Gannat, France
Le Festival
Les Cultures du Monde
One of the most famous festivals in France is
Le Festival, Les Culures du Monde in Gannat.
This is the 36th edition of the festival Les
Cultures du Monde : during 10 days around
400 musicians and dancers from all over the
world will share in a multicultural context their
performances (from 17th to 27th of July).
Especially, the city, Gannat, invited Ifugao
The festival is exclusively devoted to the
performance by male voice choirs and vocal
ensembles of songs in celebration of wine,
organised by the choral Olympics champion
Béla Bartók Male Voice Choir and Pécs
(Phillippines) so that there people can listen
to the Fud Fud Song designated one of
UNESCO master pieces in the festival.
It would be an excellent cooperative example
for ICCN members to exchange each culture.
Cultural Centre. Male voice choirs, vocal
ensembles and folk music performers are
invited to Pécs and the county of Baranya
from all over Europe, and every fourth year
from all over the world.
www.winesongfestival.hu
East-West Passage – Balkan World Music
Festival 5-7 November 2009
The East-West Passage wishes, year by year,
to present an ever widening perspective of
the multifaceted nature of Balkan culture, in
the frame of international interdisciplinary
conference and the Balkan World Music
Festival.
www.keletnyugati.hu
(ORGANISED BY PÉCS CULTURAL CENTRE)
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The Armorial Bearings of
The KINGSTON and SAINT ANDREW
CORPORATION
THE MOTTO: A CITY WHICH HATH FOUNDATIONS from Hebrews 11:10.
Most Mottoes are quotations of allusions. Today there is a return to ancient custom
of having a Motto in the language of the people so that all can understand. The
Bible is still the best known Book to our People and so a Biblical quotation is
suggested. Quite apart from the obvious religious meaning this also refers to the
historical and modern features contained in the Arms.