Intangible Cultural Heritage museums: Further considerations for a new museum definition

Abstract

As a new museum definition is being developed, it is time to reconsider the impact of UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage on the museum field. Museums focusing on specific intangible cultural elements, or Intangible Cultural Heritage museums, have been emerging to illustrate a range of approaches to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage from a museological perspective. This paper suggests the need to explore these experiences to gain a better understanding of how museums and their practices are being transformed, expanded and adapted in response to this element of heritage. The Museo del Baile Flamenco is briefly presented as an example of an ICH museum that challenges us to think more broadly about the actors and methods involved in defining a museum, calling for a more open-minded approach for envisioning museums in the 21st century.