Elements Of Intangible Cultural Heritage Research Articles

Mapping the methodologies of the craft sciences in Finland, Sweden and Norway

Abstract The craft sciences have emerged as a field of academic research in Finland, Sweden and Norway since the early 1990s. In Finland, craft research has examined various aspects of crafts using a multidisciplinary approach, adapting a range of methods from other academic disciplines according to the research topic. Another source has been the schools of domestic sciences in which craft research has been a recognized field. In Sweden and Norway, craft research has developed strongly in architectural conservation and cultural heritage with a focus on traditional craftsmanship and the performative elements of intangible cultural heritage. This article offers an overview of the developments and progress of the field of craft sciences in these countries, including its methodological approaches, with a focus on Ph.D. theses. Through mapping recurrent methodological approaches, the following categories were derived: craft reconstruction, craft interpretations, craft elicitation, craft amplification and craft socialization. The aim of the classification, and the model derived from it, is to help researchers and students understand better how different types of knowledge relate to different research methods and apply them within their own research. The purpose of the research is to create a common infrastructure for research and education in order to connect and strengthen the dispersed academic communities of craft research and to establish craft science as a formally recognized discipline within the academic system.

ANALISA PERUNDANGAN TERHADAP PERLINDUNGAN WARISAN KEBUDAYAAN TIDAK KETARA DI MALAYSIA

The National Heritage Act 2005 is the only Act enacted in Malaysia to date to protect the national heritage including intangible cultural heritage. In the field of heritage study, intangible cultural heritage becomes a priority in the context of a 'non-existent' heritage enjoyed through the human senses. However, the Act provides a rather limited definition of intangible cultural heritage due to ambiguity in certain terminologies of its definition and scope. Hence, by using the provisions of the UNESCO Convention 2003 as the basis of discussion, this article analyses the legal provisions which protect intangible cultural heritage in Malaysia for the country in fulfilling its responsibilities as a Member Country of the Convention. This article finds that improvements to the definition of intangible cultural heritage need to be made by expanding the scope of the provision to include relevant intangible cultural heritage elements such as food and fine arts heritage.

From wild songs to intangible cultural heritage: the heritagization of Hua’er in China

This study examines the impact of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) system and policies on a grassroots folksong tradition in Northwestern China called hua'er, which was named as an element of Chinese ICH in 2006 and as an element of UNESCO World ICH in 2009. Hua’er is a unique case study in that it was, historically, forbidden and regarded as highly shameful or even taboo to be sung in public due to its explicitly erotic lyrics. The designation of hua’er as an element of ICH thus transformed it from a taboo or “forbidden” song genre, practiced at the margins of rural society, into a respectable element of world and national heritage. Despite that the ICH process at the national level tends to be a top-down project for the construction of national identity, in which the main goal of ICH recognition and protection is to strengthen a clear Chinese identity and a harmonious society, during my field research on hua’er I discovered that singers, scholars and officials have nonetheless used the opportunities afforded by recognition as ICH to negotiate and reimagine the practice of hua’er and its associated identities. In doing so, singers overcome the social stigmas they have faced in the past. Once seen only as “wild songs” sung by unruly individuals, hua’er is now being reconstructed as a romantic courtship song genre of “naive” ethnic minority groups as well as an iconic music genre that represents ethnic solidarity in the Northwestern region.

Social Capital and Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Theoretical Concepts of Departure and the Potential of Further Research

Abstract This study discusses the use of the social capital concept in relation to the elements of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and their safeguarding. The author proceeds from theoretical concepts which were employed by some researchers outside ethnological research (P. Bourdieu, Y. F. Fukuyama, R. D. Putnam and others) in the last decades. He highlights one of the basic principles of social capital, which consists of sharing the real and the potential sources, knowledge, and information, which an individual or a group of persons acquire through more or less institutionalized relations. Based on the experience from the national environment (Czech Republic) and an international organization (UNESCO) he contemplates to which extent it is possible to apply the theoretical foundations of social capital on the ICH, where the principle of sharing of and mutual respect to cultural elements is one of the basic theses. The discussion about the social capital concept in social sciences has until now shown how wide the spectrum of possible perspectives is. There is not the only possible determinant interpretation and field. The chosen theme, the methodology, and the discipline’s tradition contribute to different territorial and conceptual adaptations of social capital, which, however, also generates a potential of using this concept in the form of transdisciplinary research. This can be used, in the future, for the study of intangible cultural heritage.

Anthropology of the mannequin: traps and prospects in the museum exhibition

This article is dedicated to specificity of using mannequins in the museum exhibitions. Emphasis is made on the nuances of selection and preparation of a museum mannequin from the perspective of anthropology, and primarily such aspects as anthropological correspondence and symbolic component that allow turning the mannequin from a technical element into a constituent part of exhibition, which would translate the elements of intangible cultural heritage. The goal this research consists in the analysis of potential risks associated with neglecting the specificity of mannequin as a constituent part of museum exhibition. Field materials acquired from modern exhibitions in Russian and foreign museums served as the source material for this work. The main research methods became he case study and comparative analysis. It is concluded that the choice of mannequins for exhibitions should be conducted with consideration of actual anthropometry of the historical and cultural groups; if the mannequin is not impersonalized, its phenotype should be close to its ethnic group. If the listed above is impossible, the best option lies in deanthropologization of the mannequin; otherwise, they devalue the artistic level of exhibition and worth of the originals. Static mannequins with evident anthropomorphic features are perceived rather negatively, especially in a direct visual contact. Mannequins are capable of retranslating multiple body techniques as the elements of intangible cultural heritage, and this aspect should not be neglected. Mannequins can also be used in exhibition scenography.

An Evaluation of The Sociological Texture of Yaşar Kemal’s Novels in The Context of Feminist Literary Criticism

Yaşar Kemal, accepted as one of the important writers of World and Contemporary Turkish Literature, produced works in many genres of literature. The works of Yaşar Kemal, who is best known as a novelist, contain many social facts about Turkish social reality throughout the history of the Republic. The geography of his novels from Çukurova to Istanbul includes many social issues such as aghas (tribal chieftains), social banditry, population exchange, poverty, environmental change, rural life, intangible cultural heritage elements and the social consequences of wars. His original competence in the Romani language, his success in building social-cultural characters, his ability to transfer social events to fiction with an aesthetic talent, and his awareness for human beings and the environment have given Yaşar Kemal a high profile in the world of literature. Social change processes focused on the production relations that started in Turkey in 1950/60s brought about their own material conditions starting from Çukurova region. This process is undoubtedly reflected in art. Yaşar Kemal treated in detail the sociological texture of this change from many aspects in his works. Thus, he became an artist who succeeded in touching universal human reality way beyond the perception of a novel confined only to Çukurova. Within this human reality, women are included as the main characters. Given the humanitarian cultural basis on which he built his novels, it can be seen that in all Yaşar Kemal’s novels, women have a respectable position. This study aims to make a sociological study on Yaşar Kemal’s published novels and to contribute to different readings with feminist literary criticism.

“Fractured Resemblances”: Contested Multinational Heritage and Soft Power

Abstract:Intangible cultural heritage elements are shared across state borders. In many instances, states join in multinational nominations to inscribe the heritage element in a way that reflects this reality. But, at times, states are unwilling or unable to cooperate in a mutual nomination that reflects the shared nature of the heritage element. The consequence of this is that heritage elements can then be nominated by individual states without any reflection of the multinational or cross-border nature of the element; thus leaving the heritage elements shorn of this aspect of their nature. The current international heritage legal regime, through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, does not adequately acknowledge or address this problem. This article, through a case study of the successful nomination by Azerbaijan of the horseback game of chovqan, examines the causes and consequences of these “fractured resemblances.” It analyzes the links between cultural heritage, conflict, and the use of heritage as a form of soft power. It focuses on the use of single-state inscription as a soft-power means of obtaining international prestige and support and the resultant effects on shared cultural heritage elements. From this, suggestions for changes to international heritage laws for the inscription of cultural heritage are suggested to accommodate the reality of the connection between cultural heritage, conflict, and power and to avoid the occurrence of “fractured resemblances” of heritage shared across state lines.

Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage and the environment

The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (hereafter known as the Convention) was adopted within the framework of UNESCO in October 2003. Article 2 of the Convention establishes that intangible cultural heritage (ICH) must be compatible with sustainable development. Sustainable development in relation to culture consists of three intertwined dimensions: society, environment, and economy. Chapter 6 of the Operational Directives for the Implementation of this Convention establishes a framework related to “environmental sustainability”. The framework consists of three pillars. The first pillar relates to “environmental impacts in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage”. The second pillar relates to “knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe”. The final pillar concerns “community-based resilience to natural disasters and climate change”. Through analysis of the Convention, the Convention’s Operational Directives and elements of intangible cultural heritage inscribed on the Representative List of the Convention, this article will provide case studies where, in line with these pillars, intellectual property rights, particularly geographical indications, aim to support environmentally friendly practices. In so doing, this article will also seek to show that intellectual property rights can recognise communities as bearers of knowledge about nature and as essential actors in sustaining the environment. Indeed, this work will suggest that although intellectual property rights, if not carefully drafted, can pose risks for environmental sustainability, when correctly adopted they have the capacity to empower communities. Thus, the aim of this work is to show how intellectual property rights can be tools to facilitate safeguarding and sustainability for both intangible cultural heritage and the environment.

Intangible Cultural Heritage and inventory process of the Lombardy region

The article presents the experience of a regional state institution involved in the process of compiling the Regional Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Register in the spirit of the 2003 Convention. The Lombardy Region Ethnography and Social History Archive (Archivio di Etnografia e Storia Sociale, AESS) has been operating since the 1970s within the regional institution for the enhancement of the Lombardy Region’s traditional heritage. The Archive has since been used to promote fieldwork and ethnographic research projects and it has been supplemented with documents, photographs and audio-visual documentation. The Italian ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention was an opportunity to give continuity and consistency to the cultural activities that the Lombardy Region Ethnography and Social History Archive has been conducting since the 1970s. Regional Law no. 27 of 23 October 2008, “Enhancement of the intangible cultural heritage”, and the new Regional Law of Lombardy no. 25 of 7 October 2016 on “Regional policies on cultural matters — Regulatory reorganization” allowed a participatory inventory process and shaped the formation of pioneering legislative action in Italy. As a result of this new regional cultural policy, the Intangible Search Inventory was established, overseen by the AESS, which coordinates safeguarding measures, actions and projects. The Intangible Search Inventory is a community based inventory that adopts the 2003 Convention principles for the safeguarding of ICH and works to apply the key ideas of the Convention itself, including participation and communities in the identification and description of the ICH elements. The Archive is also in charge of the production, collection and enhancement of multimedia documentation on ICH. This extends to multimedia collections regarding rituals, social habits, traditional technical knowledge, oral expressions and traditional music. Some of this thematic fieldwork and multimedia materials can be further explored on www.intangiblesearch.eu.

YESTERDAY AND TODAY OF KAZAKH KUY


 
 
 The article discusses the history of the performance of the Kazakh kuy throughout the history of the separation of Kazakhs into a separate ethnic group to the present. Examples are provided to familiarize readers with the general context. Especially we focus on the Kazakh traditional forms of music-making.Since in the 20th century kuy appeared on the stage and was placed within the framework of a European-style concert, this could not but leave an imprint on how kuy was perceived, influenced the situation in the life of the once nomadic society, in the system of its spiritual values and the viability of kuy, especially in an urban environment.Now that the “Kazakh traditional art of dombra kuy” has been included in UNESCO's representative list, stakeholders need to take measures to safeguard the element of intangible cultural heritage.
 
 

A Qualitative Study on the Opinions of 7th Grade Students on Intangible Cultural Heritage

The purpose of this study is to identify the opinions of 7th grade students at middle schools on the elements of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and to reveal their levels of awareness on such elements. The study based on qualitative research method was carried out through qualitative research design. The study group consists of 13 students studying at a school at the city center of Bartın. Data of the study were obtained from focus group interviews held with students. The data obtained were analyzed through content analysis method by using MAXQDA 2018 qualitative data analysis software. Results of the analyzed data were interpreted with their frequencies and percentages shown by figures and tables. From the findings obtained under the study, it has been concluded that the students are able to correctly interpret the notion of intangible cultural heritage and distinguish it from the notion of tangible cultural heritage, that students’ awareness on local cultural values is higher than national cultural values, that students have a high interest in traditional children’s games, which is a significant part of the intangible cultural heritage, however those games are not adequately experienced, that the survival of national values is dependent upon their discovery by the young generation, that settlement area, sex and age are major variables on the interest in cultural values, that society in general and family and educational institutions in particular have a quite significant function in development of young individuals’ awareness on the conservation of national cultural values such as cultural and religious rituals, folk songs and tales etc. , that technological developments cause young individuals to be alienated from national cultural values, that the conservation of such values is highly important for the existence of nations.

Engineering eHeritage—A New Approach for Study of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Case Study: The Analysis of the Noise Produced by the Dacian Dracon

Preserving the past is an important task of the current generation because of the rapid changes that influence our society. There are certain objects or traditions that make us feel as though we are part of something and—a country, a way of life. The term ‘cultural heritage’ has seen many changes over the last decades and can be evaluated from a tangible or intangible point of view. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the recognition and protection of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) has seen an increased importance. ICH includes goods that can express the idiosyncrasy of certain groups, represent a specific skill, or tradition. This paper presents a working methodology on a structured approach to ICH elements, as well as a case study of such an object. At the same time, this paper proposes a new method of artifacts research, an approach that brings, in addition to engineering, expertise from several fields: Mechanics, construction, material resistance, flow of fluids, heat transfer, ICT, and virtual reality.

Intangible cultural heritage elements in the visuals of 6th grade Turkish textbook

KA¼ltA¼rel A¶AŸeler ana dili A¶AŸretimi iA§in, bu konuda tA¼rkA§e ders kitaplarA±nA±n kA¼ltA¼rel unsurlarA± iA§ermesi kaA§A±nA±lmazdA±r. AraAŸtA±rmanA±n hedefi, TA¼rkA§e 6 ders kitabA±, gA¶rsel materyallerde (resim, fotoAŸraf, vb.) Somut olmayan kA¼ltA¼rel miras A¶AŸelerinin varlA±AŸA±nA± belirleme ve tA¼rlerine gA¶re sA±ralamalarA±nA± analizektir. A‡alA±AŸma fotoAŸraflarA± 277 gA¶rsel malzeme 125 fotoAŸraf, 98 dijital resim, 23 resim, 15 resim, 4 afiAŸ, 3 tablo, 2 broAŸA¼r, 2 grafik, 2 skeA§ olarak geliyor. TA¼rk kahvesi, TA¼rk lokumu, kemen, horon, Mardin, Zeybek Geleneksel, A°shak PaAŸa SarayA±, tarhana A§orbasA±, tarhana yapA±mA±, doku, cirit oyunu olan fotoAŸraflarda somut olmayan A¼rA¼nlerin miras unsurlarA±na sahip gA¶rseller; Nasreddin Hoca, KaragA¶z ve gA¶lge fA±sA±ltA±larA± ve A§izimleri A‡in fA±sA±ltA±larA±, mendil oyunu, birinin elini A¶pme gibi dijital tasarA±mA±. Cinsiyet ayrA±mcA±lA±AŸA± ya da AŸiddet unsurlarA± gA¶rsellerde tespit edilemedi ve sA±nA±f dA¼zeyi ve metin iA§eriAŸi iA§in uygundur. GA¶rsellerin estetik duyarlA±lA±AŸA± arttA±rA±cA± A¶zellikleri vardA±r; Sonunda birlikte, kavramsal yA¼z ifadesi ve duygu kavramsal eksiktir.

Tradicionalne sportske igre u Vojvodini (Srbija) u funkciji diverzifikacije turističkog proizvoda

Traditional sports games are an expression of folk creativity in the field of sports and recreation, the result of the creativity of the people in the culture of sport. According to the venue, they are mostly related to the rural areas from which they originated. Traditional sports games were recognized in the 21st century as an element of intangible cultural heritage, which should be protected and affirmed in a new way in order to preserve them from oblivion and disappearance. Therefore, the importance of traditional sports as an element of tourist off er (an important element of tourist off er and promotion of rural, religious, cultural, sports and recreational tourism) is increasingly recognized in tourism strategies and plans in the world. The subject of this research is 16 events that promote traditional sports games and skills in the territory of Vojvodina. The aim of the paper is to distinguish old traditional sports through tourism valorisation, which can represent an important segment in the diversification of tourism products. The methods used are analytical-synthetic and inductive-deductive methods with the use of critical inference, as well as methods of tourism valorization according to Hilary du Cros.

Mapping the Potential Interactions between UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Regime and World Trade Law

Abstract:The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (CSICH) was not intended to have legal repercussions in international trade. Nevertheless, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) may interact with trade regulation under various scenarios. The CSICH “Representative List” inscribes numerous ICH elements with real and potential international commercial aspects and consequent trade law implications. These emergent trade law–ICH regime dynamics require not only some critical reflection (for example, is safeguarding of ICH ultimately dependent on commodification or, at least in some cases, significantly prone to commercial capture?) but also doctrinal legal analysis. This article undertakes a survey of many plausible ICH–trade interactions (generally excluding intellectual property issues), providing an analytical framework with reference to a series of case sketches of selected CSICH inscriptions such as kimjang, beer culture in Belgium, and yoga. These and other cases may indeed raise issues under world trade law, including the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the General Agreement on Trade in Services, the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, and subsidies regulation. Trade law may have underestimated the significance of ICH as a growing field. At the same time, ICH law may be developing without thinking through how it is impacted by commercial interests and international trade law.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE TO LOCAL ECONOMY IN BEYPAZARI TOURISM DESTINATION

Beypazarı county in Ankara-Turkey, where a revitalization of intangible cultural heritage assets is observed in the last decade, may be assessed as a success story. This recent economic development seems to be a byproduct of tourism industry and cultural heritage combination nearby other factors. In this context, intangible cultural heritage elements such as handcrafts and traditional kitchen are harmonized with elegant historical architecture dating back to Ottoman period. Discovering lessons regarding ICH protection from Beypazarı case as a rich and deep place of memory is the focus of this study. This research follows the situational analysis method known also as case study. Primary data obtained via semi-structured in-depth interviews with key-informants will be interpreted for development of recommendations.

PRESENTATIONS OF AGLONA’S PILGRIM GROUPS: AUDIO-VISUAL CODES

The article „Pilgrimage to Aglona: Audio-Visual Codes” is dedicated to Aglona pilgrimage, which is considered a significant element of intangible cultural heritage of Latvia. The importance of this tradition has been acknowledged by its vitality: in spite of the historical complexities, the tradition of Aglona ritual pilgrimage has survived for more than a century and in due course has strengthened its value in practice and social memory of the community. At the same time it is not a rigid value based in the past; instead it exists on its own and develops according to the dialectical patterns of ritual.The aim of the article is to investigate the most significant audio-visual codes featured in Aglona pilgrimage, by revealing the most distinctive expressions of identity among pilgrims and by highlighting the diachronic development of audio-visually perceptible attributes relevant to the pilgrimage. The subject of the research is a specific part of the pilgrimage ritual – presentations of pilgrim groups on Assumption Day of the Virgin Mary into Heaven on August 14, which are staged during the holy mass dedicated to pilgrims and youth. Typologically presentations staged by pilgrim groups are being viewed as a closure phase (postliminal rite) of a transition ritual (liminal rite).The article examines 93 presentations prepared by pilgrim groups in 2014, 2015 and 2016. For data acquisition an on-site observation was applied, which falls under the definition of the sensory anthropological meaning (Howes 2003:54). Analysis of presentations staged by pilgrims was conducted by means of structurally semiotic approach that allows defining the specific symbolic language of the pilgrimage while displaying sensory perceptible ritual codes of the pilgrimage – visual and audial codes, i.e. the visual attributes of pilgrim groups and verbally musical representations with their characteristic performative and reproduction elements.The visual code of pilgrimage refers to various aspects of social identity. The affiliation to religious identity has been presented by such religious symbols as cross, flags belonging to various congregations, religious movements or separate Christian communities, tablets with images of pilgrimage patrons and visualisations of the intent of participation in pilgrimage; locally patriotic identity has been attested by the flag of the country, region, municipality or city. The research confirms that religious symbols (especially cross) and the related ceremonies are becoming more modest, whereas locally patriotic representations are expanding, thus marking the geographical circumference of the pilgrimage and confirming Aglona as a sanctuary of international significance. The clothing of participants reflects either their professional identity (National Armed Forces, clergymen, nuns) or affiliation to a specific interest group (European Guides).The audial codes are explored within the repertoires of pilgrim presentations, appearing in the form of performance and reproduction. Metonymically, the audial codes in pilgrim presentations contain the most essential functions related to the ritual in general and demonstrate such inherent features of the postmodern culture as interplay of the traditional and the innovative. The traditional values have been represented by sacred symbols and topics, but the innovative by artistic performance techniques: method of exact dating, typological generalizations directed towards community identity generation, stylization of texts drawn from other cultural areas (folklore, pop culture). The verbal codes of pilgrim groups in turn manifest ambivalence that is inherent to the pilgrimage ritual in general and marks not only the text, but also a the dialogue among generations and values. The audio-visual codes being organically embedded in the symbolic system of pilgrimage ritual language reveal multi-layered dialogue on cultural values, which is present within the ritual at subject, text and action level.

A decade of implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

In this article, Cécile Duvelle presents the main points of the evaluation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage undertaken by UNESCO a decade after its adoption in 2003. She discusses the achievements as well as the pitfalls of the Convention. Drawing on a survey involving State Parties as well as many non-state stakeholders including NGOs, representatives of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) bearer organizations, and academics, the authors of the evaluation report consider the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage to be a highly relevant international legal instrument, both in terms of its consistency with national and local priorities and with the needs of the concerned communities, groups and individuals. The Convention has broadened the more traditional view of heritage to include anthropological and sociological points of view. It also introduced a number of important concepts related to ICH, such as the understanding that the community is the real bearer of ICH and that this heritage is defined in terms of the community; the notion that culture is living and evolving as it is transmitted from one generation to another; and the concept of safeguarding as a measure aimed at ensuring the viability of ICH. The Convention introduced new terminology and definitions that have since gained global prominence, supplanting older concepts. The article provides an in-depth discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the practice of listing ICH elements, of the promises and shortcomings of community participation, of the challenges of intellectual property and cultural diversity to ICH, of the necessary collaboration in the administration of the different UNESCO heritage conventions, and of the ways intangible cultural heritage can contribute to sustainable development, to conflict resolution and to human rights. The author concludes by commenting the recommendations of the evaluation report.

Событийный туризм и нематериальное культурное наследие (на материалах Владимирской области)

Differences in national cultures and unique cultural heritage are among the main drivers of international tourism de- velopment. There is faster growth and more noticeable specialization in this segment of the tourism market. In recent years, there is increased attention to the role of event tourism as an efficient way to engage elements of intangible cultural heritage to the organization of travelers’ leisure, and thus to increase tourist flows while minimizing damage to the environment and the material cultural heritage. The article presents the results of a study conducted in Vladimir region by means of expert interviews and case study. The analysis has shown that a year-round calendar of event tour- ism, based on attracted intangible cultural heritage, contributes to the interest of tourists for the first destination visit and helps to create a basis for increasing the repeat visits share. Moreover, it helps to solve a set of interrelated issues, including inventory and preservation of intangible cultural heritage and to balance the interests of all destination stake- holders (business actors, tourists, residents, governmental and municipal bodies). It is possible to reduce unevenness of tourist flows in time and space, and to overcome the problem of Vladimir-Suzdal Museum Reserve limiting possibilities to serve growing visitors flow without damaging the material cultural heritage included in the UNESCO list.

Intangible Cultural Heritage and Tourism: Comparing Croatia and the Czech Republic

This paper describes the importance of cultural heritage in tourism. It examines possible positive effects of engaging elements of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in the supply of tourist destination on sustainable development and economic growth of tourism. The paper sets up the framework for the comprehensive research analysis and compares the cases of Croatia and the Czech Republic with regard to the UNESCO site and the intangible cultural heritage. It employs the definition and consecutive discussion of seven main postulates related to the determinants and outcomes of the ICH. Moreover, it reports the result of the pilot survey and sets up the framework for the larger data collection and analysis. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5s1p522