Intangible Cultural Heritage

Greenland National Museum & Archives are responsible for safeguarding Greenland’s intangible cultural heritage. In collaboration with society at large plus relevant groups and organisations it is our job to identify and define elements of intangible cultural heritage in Greenland and maintain an updated inventory of the same.

In 2003 UNESCO adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Greenland ratified the convention in 2009. Via the convention Greenland pledges to compile an inventory of living traditions and intangible cultural heritage in the country. The inventory – constantly expanding and updated – lists some of Greenland’s intangible cultural heritage.

So far Greenland National Museum & Archives have been responsible for selecting and listing intangible cultural heritage in the inventory, but the plan is to collaborate with relevant organisations and groups to include practices, ideas, expressions, knowledge and skills, as well as tools, artefacts and cultural spaces that society at large, groups, and in some instances individuals consider to be part of their cultural heritage.