page_title: Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
section_title: Proclamations
hierarchical_section_title: Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity / Proclamations
caption_attribution_description: Català: Primer 3 de 9 sense folre carregat de Colla Joves modernament durant la diada vallenca de Santa Úrsula, 27-X-2019. Foto de; Roser Giner Rius.
context_page_description: The Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness of intangible cultural heritage and encourage local communities to protect them and the local people who sustain these forms of cultural expressions. Several manifestations of intangible heritage around the world were awarded the title of Masterpieces to recognize the value of the non-material component of culture, as well as entail the commitment of states to promote and safeguard the Masterpieces. Further proclamations occurred biennially.
  The list totaled 429 elements as of 2017.
context_section_description: Beginning in 2001, the new program has started identifying various forms of intangible heritage around the world for safeguarding through a Proclamation. Under this act, national governments acceding to the UNESCO Convention, known as member states, are each allowed to submit a single candidature file, in addition to multi-national nominations, of intangible cultural heritage occurring within their territories. The nominated intangible heritage may fall into two categories as set by the program:
  forms of popular and traditional cultural expressions; or
  cultural spaces, i.e., places where cultural and popular activities are concentrated and regularly take place (markets squares, festivals, etc.)
  The nominations are evaluated by a panel of experts in intangible heritage, including specialized non-government organizations (NGOs), and are further scrutinized by a jury, whose 18 members have previously been selected by the UNESCO Director-General. A set of criteria has been created to aid in the assessing of the nominations. The cultural expressions and spaces proposed for proclamation had to:
  demonstrate their outstanding value as masterpiece of the human creative genius;
  give wide evidence of their roots in the cultural tradition or cultural history of the community concerned;
  be a means of affirming the cultural identity of the cultural communities concerned;
  provide proof of excellence in the application of the skill and technical qualities displayed;
  affirm their value as unique testimony of living cultural traditions;
  be at risk of degradation or of disappearing.
  Furthermore, the nominees should be in conformity with UNESCO ideals, in particular, with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The nomination proposals also had to provide proof of the full involvement and agreement of the local communities and to include an action plan for the safeguarding or promotion of the concerned cultural spaces or expressions, which should have been elaborated in close collaboration with the tradition bearers.
  Through the nomination process, the member states are encouraged to compile an inventory of their intangible heritage, raising awareness and protection of these treasures. In turn, the proclaimed Masterpieces receive commitment from UNESCO in financing plans for their conservation.
  Proclamations in 2001, 2003 and 2005, designated a total of 90 forms of intangible heritage around the world as Masterpieces:
caption: Castells ("Castles"), one of the most representative traditions in the Catalan culture, is among the proclaimed Masterpieces in Catalonia, Spain in 2010.[15]
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