Maldives have launched a workshop on training individuals to protect the intangible cultural heritage of the country.
The workshop held in collaboration with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is aimed to identify, guarantee the authenticity and to protect the intangible cultural heritage of Maldives. An intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill, as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts, and cultural spaces that are considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage.
Speaking to PSM News regarding the workshop, Project Officer at Department of Heritage Shaiha Ahmed highlighted so far intangible cultural heritage have only been recorded in books and other documents. Shaiha revealed the workshop will enhance the efforts to create and record intangible cultural heritage via photographs, audios, videos and means of visual documents. She noted the aim is to create a rich inventory on intangible cultural heritage of Maldives. She added efforts are underway to develop a platform to access the intangible cultural heritage items gathered from across the country.
A total of 20 individuals from National Archive, Department of Heritage, National Museum, Dhivehi Language Academy and non-governmental organisations are taking part in the 4-day workshop.