Calendar of Events
2009 5th May: „On Becoming and Being Born … Symposium on Traditional Knowledge of Midwifes”
In conjunction with the Department for Obstetrics and Gynecology of Vienna hospital Göttlicher Heiland, the
Museum of Ethnology and the Austrian Society for Ethnomedicine, the National Agency for the Intangible Cultural
heritage organized an expert-meeting to debate on traditional knowledge relating to childbearing period, delivery and
parenting. Medical practitioners, midwives and experts in cultural studies reported on their experiences and challenges
they have to deal with on the work front. An interdisciplinary dialogue while acknowledging parents as essential
partners is needed to develop strategies which antagonize the growing reluctance to take on responsibility. Being
positive about the significance of traditional knowledge, the National Agency promotes the creation of working groups,
media projects etc.
2008 17th September „Traditional and Complementary Medicine – Cultural Heritage as Common Task at National and
International Level“, Vienna
The second time the Federal Ministry for Health, Family and Youth joined forces with the National Agency for
the Intangible Cultural Heritage on the subject of traditional and complementary medicine. As back as in 2006 the first
symposium already indicated strong interest in the subject both by health professionals and a wider public. The
re-showing interest at the 2008 symposium gives evidence that health issues affect people emotionally when touching
upon spirituality, feelings of security, respect for traditional knowledge and sustainable utilization of local
resources. In this connection cultural heritage attains new distinction,
Programme,
Abstract 18th/19th April: „Geburt und Ritual“, Bad Aussee
An interdisciplinary symposium organised in co-operation with the Vienna Institute for Folk Music Research and
Ethnomusicology and IVK Innsbruck. Its topic is birthing and its ritualisation in the various cultures. The event is
also intended to jump-start the subject within folk music research (e.g. with a view to early childhood musical
socialisation).
30th/31st January: 1. ExpertInnen-Workshop „Immaterielles Kulturerbe im Bereich der österreichischen
Forstwirtschaft“, Stift Schlägl/OÖ
The interdisciplinary workshop discusses intangible cultural heritage practices in forestry, developing the
basics of forestry and cultural potentials at regional and enterprise level. The meeting is organised in collaboration
with the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management and the National Agency
for the Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Austrian Commission for UNESCO.
Programme.
Paper.
2007 14th-17th November: "Erb.gut? Kulturelles Erbe in Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft", Austrian Ethological
Conference, Innsbruck
The interdisciplinary conference discussed concepts such as kulturelles Erbe, cultural heritage or patrimoine,
which are of special relevance in view of Austria’s process to ratify the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage. Programme.
15th-17th October: “Managing Alpine Future. Strategies for Sustainability in Times of Change”,
International Conference, Innsbruck
Knowledge concerning nature and the universe is one of the five domains of the Convention for the Safeguarding
of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The trend towards ever more technology and modernisation over the past decades has
diminished the appreciation accorded to traditional knowledge. The international conference discussed the serious
consequences that such a loss may have, particularly in the Alpine region where climate change and globalisation have
left highly visible traces. Conference website 23th/24th June: „Wild.Wuchs? - Kulturelle Praktiken im Umgang mit Fauna und Flora im Spannungsfeld
zwischen nachhaltiger Nutzung, Schutz und Bedrohung“, Symposium, Altaussee
Industrialisation and the advancement of technology have combined to reduce the understanding of ecological
interconnections and caused a decline in the social acceptance of specific cultural practices although these are still
handed down to future generations. As a result, valuable traditional knowledge of natural processes is threatened with
irretrievable extinction. The symposium offered a dialogue among participants from life sciences and the arts, those in
key (cultural) politics and ecology positions as well as practitioners of traditional knowledge, to identify current
problems and search for modern strategies in handling cultural practices.
Programme.
21st-23th June: „Traditionelle Europäische Heilkunde“, Salzburger Saalachtal, Unken
The three-day event aimed to provide theoretical and practical knowledge of local traditional medicine.
Scientific talks given by pharmaceutical and medical experts of traditional medicine furnished the theoretical
background for practical exercises and offered insights into the current discussion of traditional medicine.
Leaflet 2006 28th–30th October: „ischt der Sindfluß g’wösen“ – Kulturelle Strategien & Reflexionen zur Prävention
und Bewältigung von Naturgefahren, Interdisciplinary Conference at the Obergurgl University Centre
The conference gained added currency from the rapidly rising incidence of natural disasters. In the European
Alps it has been mostly floods (such as those ravaging large parts of Austria in 2002 and 2005) and avalanches (such as
that at Galtür in 1999) that have wreaked havoc. The key issue discussed by the interdisciplinary symposium was whether
the staunchly technology-confident natural sciences can learn from the cultural sciences when it comes to disaster
handling. The meeting was organised by the UNESCO Commission’s National Agency for the Intangible Cultural Heritage
jointly with the Institute for Folk Culture and Cultural Development.
Press release, short report 13th/14th October: "Grasping the Intangible" – Internationale Konferenz zur Bedeutung immateriellen
Kulturerbes im Zeitalter der Globalisierung, Tanzquartier Wien
The National Agency for the Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Austrian Commission for UNESCO organised an
expert meeting to serve as an exchange on the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Through the collaboration of the partner organisations involved – the Vienna Institute for Development and Cooperation
VIDC, the Austrian Development Agency ADA, Tanzquartier Wien TQW and the Ö1 broadcasting station – a platform for a
dialogue was created that had a very positive and stimulating effect on public discussion.
Conference programme,
Final Report 5th May: „Traditionelle Medizin und Heilmethoden in Oesterreich – Positionen und Anregungen zu einer
verantwortungsbewussten und wirkungsvollen Erhaltung immateriellen Kulturerbes“, Conference, Vienna
A collaborative venture by the National Agency for the Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Austrian Commission
for UNESCO and the Federal Ministry for Health and Women’s Affairs was the first effort since the Agency’s inception to
combine the concepts of intangible cultural heritage and traditional medicine, by offering a networking forum for
experts in both mainstream and alternative medicine. Programme Vineyards © Georg Nigl Back to the National Agency for the Intangible Cultural
Heritage | 
