On Friday, October 11, the Council of the intangible cultural Heritage of the national cultural Centre of Latvia evaluated and approved applications for supplementation of the national intangible cultural Heritage List.
The national cultural Centre of Latvia (LNKC) announced the acceptance of applications for the seventh time this year for the national List of intangible cultural Heritage (NKM). Everyone was invited to submit elements that constitute State-protected NKM values and whose listing has broad support and participation from the Community concerned. at its meeting on 14 June, THE OMC Council selected five of the eight applications sent, enabling their applicants to supplement and clarify their applications with the assistance of experts.
on October 11, THE OMC Council decided to list two OMC values: “Making of traditional Latvian belts and waistline fabrics” (foundation “weavers of Lielvarde belts”; pictured) and “making fishing nets in the western part of the Gulf of Riga” (municipalities of Jurmala and Tukums).
Only two values have added to the list of intangible cultural Heritage this year – those related directly to the skills of craftsmen: making fishing nets and loom-free weaving of belts and belt fabrics. The Board of intangible cultural Heritage was very demanding in its assessment and, however, postponed three applications with a request for clarification and resubmission a year later. However, I'm glad our list is slowly becoming more diverse, reflecting the creative spirit of our nation. It's intangible because it's about people's knowledge and skills, but we can be proud to be a people rich in skills and knowledge,” emphasizes Gita Lancers, an expert in the LNKC's intangible cultural Heritage industry.
Currently, 40 values make up the list along with the newly added values. Websites can be consulted www.nematerialakultura.lv under “NKM List”.
The LNKC announces the ACCEPTANCE of new applications each year in early January. The decision on inclusion shall BE taken by THE OMC Council, which shall consist of both researchers and representatives of non-governmental organisations of institutions of higher education and counties, representatives delegated by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of environmental Protection and Regional Development, as well as the national Commission of Latvia of UNESCO.
