Interview with Thekla Papantoniou

Interview with Thekla Papantoniou

National Commission for UNESCO of Cyprus

R.C.: What are the key messages of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage that have remained fully relevant to this day?

T.P: Living heritage provides people with a sense of belonging within a group that may transcend national borders. It is not valued on a comparative basis, for its exclusivity or its exceptional value, thus promoting mutual respect. It allows us to better understand previous generations and ourselves, it sheds light to micro-history and it showcases the link between cultural practices and the natural world around us.

R.C.: Would you identify such trends in the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage as relate to the use of formal and non-formal education and are the result of educational policies and practices?

T.P: Securing the viability of living heritage requires quality education programmes and capacity-building activities. Engaging with living heritage incentivizes learners to explore new paths to knowledge, enriches the learning experience and motivates both students and educators to develop wider competencies on issues related to culture, sustainable development, entrepreneurship and citizenship.

R.C.: Which are the highlights in marking the 20^th Anniversary of the signing of the 2003 Convention and how do they relate to the dynamic changes in the political, cultural, social and economic contexts of the present day?

T.P: The 20th Anniversary of the Convention provides an opportunity to highlight the human dynamics of living heritage and bring communities’ voices to the forefront, recognizing their central role in safeguarding and transmission. Awareness raising among youth is also important, to distinguish living heritage from folklore, to grasp the “intangible” in living heritage and incorporate in their current way of life the elements that are still relevant to them today.

R.C.: In what direction do you anticipate the future development of Regional Category 2 Centres in terms of the safeguarding, conservation and evolution of the living heritages?

T.P: Regional Centres play an important role in initiating joint projects, consolidating networks and partnerships and organising capacity building activities among stakeholders involved in the safeguarding of living heritage. In the future, they may focus more on interdisciplinary approaches, to further unlock the potential of living heritage to contribute to development in areas such as gender equality, cultural diversity and creativity, health, income generation and natural disasters and peace building.

R.C.: How your personal experience in communicating with intangible cultural heritage has affected your professional growth?

T.P: Working with communities of practitioners for more than a decade has been an enriching experience for me personally, triggering self-awareness and reflection.  Interacting with living heritage is a process of communication; it requires listening and understanding with empathy, adapting to different contexts, resolving misunderstandings, exchanging ideas and views with mutual respect. Communicating with older practitioners often reminds me of timeless values and what really matters in life.