Since 2019
years of commitment to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage
among events, projects, and conferences organised
regions of the world we work with
What is ICH?
Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) refers to the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, and skills that communities, groups, and, in some cases, individuals recognise as part of their cultural heritage (2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Article 2.1). It is a living heritage, transmitted from generation to generation and constantly recreated in response to communities’ environment, interaction with nature, and history, providing a sense of identity and continuity (Article 2.1).
What is a UNESCO Chair and what does it do?
This is the only UNESCO Chair in Italy dedicated to intangible cultural heritage, and it is also the only UNESCO Chair hosted by an online university. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, the Chair studies intangible cultural heritage (ICH) through comparative analyses. Its work examines key legal instruments and significant examples of legal protection for ICH that may be adapted and replicated in other national contexts. The overarching goal is to foster “local”, “regional”, and “global” awareness of ICH among academic communities and public institutions, while consolidating a virtuous dynamic between the Global North and the Global South and encouraging the exchange of good practices in support of sustainable development goals.
The Network
The Chair has signed several international partnership agreements for the carrying out of research activities. In particular, the Chair formally collaborates with the State University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), the University of Jordan (Jordan), the University of Fortaleza (Brazil), ICOMOS International, and the Treccani Foundation. The Chair also has the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry.
Research and Dissemination
The Chair develops projects to support and disseminate Intangible Cultural Heritage, including on-field studies of intangible cultural heritage, in which the close correlation between territory, identity, and the natural environment is particularly evident.
Education, Training and Capacity Building
The Chair conducts educational and training activities to transfer knowledge to students, communities, stakeholders, and public decision-makers directly involved in UNESCO Conventions and their implementation, with particular reference to the protection of intangible cultural heritage.
The UNESCO Chair’s Contribution to the SDGs
We link agri-food systems and living heritage through FAO WFF and ICH Day initiatives, promoting traditional knowledge for food security, resilient value chains, and community know-how transmission.
We address the culture–health nexus by advancing research and outreach on sustainable food practices and recognised heritage-based dietary models, including the Mediterranean Diet.
University teaching, a dedicated MOOC, online seminars, and “ICH Goes to School” for ICH Day. Across these formats, we strengthen cultural literacy on safeguarding, community participation, and cultural rights for students, educators, and professionals.
We are developing focused work on women and living heritage, highlighting women’s roles as knowledge bearers and leaders in safeguarding processes. Through research and capacity-building, we promote more equitable participation and visibility in heritage governance and transmission.
We support evidence-based reflection on the economic value generated by culture, including the impact of UNESCO recognition on local development and cultural and creative value chains.
We contribute through research and training on digital transformation in safeguarding, including the opportunities and risks of new technologies for documentation, access, and transmission.
Our activities and publications advance legal and policy tools that protect vulnerable groups and promote equitable access to culture, language, and identity.
We strengthen community resilience by advancing safeguarding of living heritage as a driver of social cohesion, local identity, and intergenerational continuity.
We promote sustainable consumption and production by connecting food heritage, biocultural diversity, and responsible practices, including through cooperation with FAO.
We highlight how traditional knowledge and community practices support adaptation and a climate-just transition, through dedicated seminars and international dialogues.
We contribute by advancing perspectives that link environmental protection to traditional knowledge and rights-based approaches, including comparative constitutional reflections on nature and ecosystems.
We strengthen institutions and procedures by working on cultural rights, legal frameworks, and governance mechanisms of the 2003 Convention, including participation in UNESCO-related technical processes, through research, training, and policy dialogue.
We build international cooperation through side events, joint initiatives with FAO WFF, and contributions to UNESCO facilitator networks and expert meetings (including ENFP). Co-founder of the Global Universities Alliance for Cultural Rights.
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