The Inter-City Intangible Cultural Cooperation Network (ICCN) is the only international organization of local governments and cultural organizations that aim to safeguard the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. The ICCN has been working to explore creative and effective policies for the safeguarding of local Intangible Cultural Heritage and its inseparable relation to sustainable local development. Furthermore, we aim to make cultural peace based on mutual understanding formed through intercultural dialogue.

History, Missions, and Vision

History

The Inter-City Intangible Cultural Cooperation Network (ICCN) was established as a platform for the world-wide collaboration of local authorities for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage as a vital component of sustainable development. The initiative for the creation of the ICCN was started at the first International Round Table of Mayors, in

Gangneung Gangneung () is a municipal city in the province of Gangwon-do, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017).Gangneung City (2003)Population & Households. Retrieved January 14, 2006. Gangneung is the economic ...

City,

Republic of Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its ea ...

in 2004. As the following action, the participants of the 2008 Round Table of Mayors unanimously agreed to the official founding of the ICCN in Egypt. 2019 9th ICCN Thematic Workshop in

Beit Sahour Beit Sahour or Beit Sahur ( ar, بيت ساحور pronounced ; Palestine grid 170/123) is a Palestinian town east of Bethlehem, in the Bethlehem Governorate of the State of Palestine. The city is under the administration of the Palestinian Nation ...

, Palestine Theme: “The Role of Folklore Festival in Preserving Culture and Identity” 2018 7th ICCN General Assembly in

Algemesí Algemesí () is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Ribera Alta in the Valencian Community, Spain. The town of Algemesí is one of the major centres for the production of citruses in Spain, and several cooperatives are based there. This is due ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

Theme: “I want to know your heritage” 2017 8th ICCN Thematic Workshop in

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

, China Theme: “Intangible Cultural Heritage and Children Education” 2016 6th ICCN General Assembly in

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

Theme: “The Intangible Heritage and the Sustainable Development processes” 2015 7th ICCN Workshop in Cachtice-Kopanice,

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...

Theme: “ICH Policies to Transmit a Community’s Identity Between Generations.” 2014 5th ICCN General Assembly/ International Women’s Forum in Isfahan,

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

Theme: “Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Process of Urbanization” 2nd ICCN WORLD INTANGIBLE CULTURAL FESTIVAL (Isfahan, Iran) 2013 6th Thematic Workshop/3rd ICCN International Youth Forum in

Dubrovnik Dubrovnik (), historically known as Ragusa (; see notes on naming), is a city on the Adriatic Sea in the region of Dalmatia, in the southeastern semi-exclave of Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterran ...

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

Theme: “Youth in safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage” 2012 4th ICCN General Assembly/ 3rd ICCN International Youth Forum in Gangneung, Korea Theme: “The current status of the implementation of the UNESCO 2003 Convention at a local government level and its contribution for sustainable local development” 1st ICCN WORLD INTANGIBLE CULTURAL FESTIVAL (Gangneung, Korea) Accredited as an Advisory

NGO A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...

to the Intergovernmental Committee of

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

(June 7) 2011 5th Thematic Workshop/2nd ICCN International Youth Forum in

Gannat Gannat (; Auvergnat: ''Gatnat'') is a commune in the Allier department in central France. Gannat was a sub-prefecture until 1926, with a population of around 5,800 inhabitants. There is a castle (the Château de Gannat), two churches of whic ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

Theme: “How partnership between Local governments, NGOs, and volunteers may have positive impact on ICH safeguarding activities and local development?” 2010 3rd International Round Table of Mayors/ 1st ICCN Youth Forum in VLCNOV,

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...

Theme: “State/Local Government’s approach to Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Cultural Policies of countries around the world” 2009 4th Thematic Workshop in Kingston,

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

Theme: “Local government at the forefront of preserving tour Intangible Cultural Heritage” 2008 2nd International Round Table of Mayors in

Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the Capital city, capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, List of ...

, Egypt (Official Founding of ICCN) Theme: “The Role of Women in Safeguarding of Traditional Cultures and Maintenance of Cultural Diversity” 2007 3rd Thematic Workshop in Pecs,

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the ...

Theme: “Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by Building the Network” 2006 2nd Thematic Workshop in GANGNEUNG, Republic of Korea Theme: “Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Participation of Young People” 2005 1st Thematic Workshop in GANGNEUNG, Republic of Korea Theme: “Sustainable Development, Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Promoting Inter-City Network” 2004 1st International Round Table of Mayors in GANGNEUNG, Korea

Missions

* To cooperate with local authorities/cities for equal and friendly sharing of living heritage * To realize the well being of communities with local culture

Vision

* Worldwide Living Heritage celebrated and communities empowered

ICCN Activities

* Partnership with local authorities: Joint participation of mayor and community to ICCN activities * International Conference on local cases in the field of the safeguarding ICH : General Assembly (Roundtable of Mayors), Thematic Workshop * ICCN World Intangible Culture Festival (1st in Gangneung, Korea, 2012/ 2nd in Isfahan, Iran, 2014) * ICCN Youth Forum/ International Women’s forum * Promoting dialogue and live interaction among members

ICCN Members

1.Full Members: Full Members are accredited local authorities as represented by mayors or governors. The Full Member has the right to be represented at the ICCN meetings and events, initiate and promote the cooperative projects within ICCN. Current Full members: 32 Local governments in 28 States Kingston (Jamaica), Ifugao (Philippines), Gangneung (Republic of Korea), Vlcnov (Czech Republic), Gannat (France), Kalivia (Greece), Pecs (Hungary), Monreale (Italy), Levanto (Italy), Qalyubiya (Egypt), Nishabour (Iran), Shiraz (Iran), Rosh Ha’Ayin (Israel), Nevsehir (Turkey), Isfahan (Iran), The Association of Municipalities Cachtice-Kopanice (Cachtice, Vadovce, Kostolna, Hrasne, Jablonka, Priepasne, Kosariska and Podkylava/ Slovakia), Banepa (Nepal), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Beit Sahour (Palestine), Irkutsk (Russia), Bagerhat (Bangladesh), Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Galle (Sri Lanka), Algemesí (Spain), Mangshi (China), Jeongseon (Republic of Korea), Levuka (Fiji), Valletta (Malta), Valparaiso (Chile), Xochimilco (Mexico) 2.Associate Members: Associate Members are accredited NGOs, organizations of custodians, performers and other actors of intangible cultural heritage, specialized organizations for safeguarding of the cultural heritage. Associate Members may participate in the ICCN meetings and events, and support the ICCN with their specific experiences in the related field. Current Associate members: 25 institutes in 21 States Algerian Forum for the Citizenship and the Modernity (FACM, Algeria), Khmer Arts (Cambodia), Culture and Heritage Institute at Centennial College (Canada), Yiswind Institute of Multicultural Education (China), Association Nationale Cultures et Traditions (ANCT, France), Pusol Museums of School (Spain), COPPEM (Italy), Czech Ethnographical Society (Czech Republic), Artesol (Brazil), Craft Revival Trust (India), The Companion of Aria (Iran), Valencian Museum of Festivities Algemesí (Spain), Hong Kong Culture Heritage Studies and Promotion Association (China), Vietnamese Women’s Museum (Vietnam), Tropen Museum (The Netherlands), Israeli Organization of Local Authorities Culture Managers (Israel), ELEVI (Israel), Macedonian Research Society(Macedonia), Gangneung Danoje Festival Committee (Republic of Korea), Jeongseon Arirang Culture Foundation (Republic of Korea), Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation (Palestine), Dialogue Association for Culture and Creativity(Mauritania), Qatar Museums Authority(Qatar), ICH-Kuwait Committee (Kuwait), Lindjo Folklore Ensemble (Croatia) 3. Executive Board: The Executive Board is made up of 10 members (including maximum 3 associate members) and shall be elected by a majority of the ICCN Members present and voting at the General Assembly. It will perform to prepare agendas and annual actions of the ICCN and to implement other activities to administer the ICCN. Current Board members: Gangneung (Republic of Korea), Vlcnov (Czech Republic), Monreale (Italy), Isfahan (Iran), Shiraz (Iran), Xochimilco (Mexico), Algemesi (Spain), FACM (Algeria), ANCT (France)

References

External links

Cultural heritage associations: *UNESCO (https://en.unesco.org/) *Gangneung City (http://www.gangneung.go.kr/english/ City government home page) *Korean sightseeing (http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?areaCode=32,1 Gangneung-si:Official Site of Korea Tourism Org) *Seonggyojang House (http://www.knsgj.net Seongyojang House) {{DEFAULTSORT:Inter-City Intangible Cultural Cooperation Network Gangneung Organizations established in 2004 Cultural organizations based in South Korea