26/02/2022
Corsoculture on UNESCO-list
The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage inscribed the Dutch ‘Corso Culture’ on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 16th session, taking place virtually from 13 to 18 December.
The Dutch Minister for Culture Ingrid van Engelshoven: "With this inscription we underline the importance of Corso Culture. The Corso Culture and other forms of Intangible heritage connect people and give them a sense of identity.”
Corso culture
There are approximately 30 floral and fruit parades across the Netherlands. The parades are diverse: large and small. Floats, boats and statues. Some of the parades are very small, but the Netherlands also hosts some of the largest flower parades in the world. Corso is more than a parade. The building process and all the work that goes into the parade is a social and creative process that engages the entire community during the year. Young and old, male and female work side by side. The youth is intensively involved in the parade and the culture is passed on from generation to generation. In this way, the parades make a major contribution to the social cohesion of their community. Due to the effort of the Dutch umbrella organization for the flower and fruit parades the Corsokoepel foundation, the Corso culture was enlisted on the Representative List.
The convention
In 2003, the UNESCO's member States adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Convention is the international community’s first binding multilateral instrument tasked with safeguarding living heritage and ensuring its transmission to future generations. It recognizes the importance of intangible cultural heritage and supports countries to take the necessary measures to ensure that communities can safeguard their living heritage. The Netherlands signed this convention in 2012. Intangible heritage consists of traditions, rituals, customs and crafts that are experienced as heritage by the communities. It gives them a sense of identity and continuity passing it on to future generations. Intangible heritage is dynamic heritage and safeguarding requires a different approach than protecting monuments and museum objects. Intangible heritage is supported by communities and changes with the time. Protecting means keeping alive and passing on knowledge and skills.
National Inventory of Intangible Heritage
In order to be nominated for the UNESCO Representative List, the intangible heritage must first be added to the National Inventory of Intangible Heritage. Within the Netherlands the coordination of this inventory is in the hands of the Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage.
More information on:
https://www.corsokoepel.nl/en/elementor-317/
Pictures: © M+Fotografie, 2017 and © Lianne Wijnen Fotografie, 2017
