On March 14, 2024, in the Professor Jan Baszkiewicz Hall (Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw), the official opening of the UNESCO Chair on Intangible Cultural Heritage in Public and Global Governance took place. During the event prof. Hanna Schreiber was officially nominated the Chair Holder. The event was graced by the presence of distinguished guests including Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak – Rector of the University of Warsaw, Prof. Zygmunt Lalak – Vice-Rector of the University of Warsaw, Mr. Jakub Wiśniewski – Deputy Director of the Monument Protection Departament in the Ministry of Culture, who read the letter from Bożena Żelazowska, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Ambassador Mariusz Lewicki – Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to UNESCO in Paris, Prof. Andrzej Szeptycki – Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Prof. Michał Kleiber – President of the Polish National Commission for UNESCO, Mr. Matteo Rosati – Officer in Charge, Culture Unit, UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, Mr. Waldemar Majcher – President of the Association of Folk Artists, Dr. Artur Jóźwik – Director of the Culture Department of the Capital City of Warsaw, Prof. Jakub Zajączkowski – Dean’s Representative for International Cooperation and Research Programs, Faculty of Political Science and International Studies. The official part of the event was led by the Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, Prof. Daniel Przastek.

The second part of the event was marked by lively discussions on issues related to the governance of intangible cultural heritage, both public, globally and in urban contexts, as well as on the role artificial intelligence can play in those processes. Prof. Hanna Schreiber, the holder of the newly opened UNESCO Chair, summarised the conclusions of the meeting in three words: review, persistence, and readiness. Review, because continuous assessment of every document, policy instrument, legal act, or fundraising project is necessary to ensure they adapt to the constantly changing reality. Persistence, as it is essential for long-term projects. It was demonstrated not only in the context of the war in Ukraine, but also in the context of actions being taken to protect intangible culture at the level of local governance. Finally, readiness, because we are currently experiencing an incredible change, a revolution associated with the proliferation of artificial intelligence systems. It is up to us what will happen and what the future will be like. This is a moment we cannot afford to miss: we must be ready.

10.00-10.30
Registration, coffee buffet and musical performance of Janusz Prusinowski and Friends

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10.30-12.00
Opening of the UNESCO Chair on Intangible Cultural Heritage in Public and Global Governance

Moderator
prof. Daniel Przastek
Dean of the Faculty of Political Science
and International Studies

Speakers
prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak / prof. Zygmunt Lalak
Rector of the University of Warsaw /
Vice-Rector for Research of the University of Warsaw

Jakub Wiśniewski
Deputy Director of the Monument Protection Departament
in the Ministry of Culture: reading of the letter
from Bożena Żelazowska, Secretary of State
at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage

Mariusz Lewicki
Permanent Representative of the
Republic of Poland to UNESCO in Paris

prof. Andrzej Szeptycki
Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of
Science and Higher Education

prof. Michał Kleiber
President of the Polish National
Commission for UNESCO

Matteo Rosati
Officer in Charge, Culture Unit,
UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe

Waldemar Majcher
President of the Association
of Folk Artists

dr Artur Jóźwik
Director of the Culture Department
of the Capital City of Warsaw

prof. Jakub Zajączkowski
Dean’s Representative for International
Cooperation and Research Programs,
Faculty of Political Science and International Studies

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prof. Hanna Schreiber
UNESCO Chair Holder

Presentation of the grounding idea of the Chair and the plans, introduction of the team of the Chair and Chair’s partners

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12.00-12.30
Lunch

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12.30-16.20
Roundtables

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12.30-12.40
Introduction to the roundtables
prof. Hanna Schreiber

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12.40-13.40
Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Challenges of Contemporary Global Governance

moderator
prof. Alicja Jagielska-Burduk
UNESCO Chair on Cultural Property Law,
University of Opole

speakers
(alphabetical order)

prof. Marc Jacobs
University of Antwerp and UNESCO Chair on Critical Heritage Studies and Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Free University Brussels, Belgium

dr Andrzej Jakubowski
Institute of Law Studies of the
Polish Academy of Science

dr Maja Kominko
Director of Projects, The Heritage
Management Organisation

Current debates on the challenges for global cultural heritage governance involve exploring innovative ways to manage and safeguard the rich tapestry of cultural practices and expressions across diverse communities, including those aimed at integrating tangible and intangible heritage into coherent management structures. One of the pertinent questions is how these new, participatory governance models can better accommodate the decentralized nature of ICH, acknowledging the multiple centers of decision-making and cultural authority. Challenges and opportunities associated with integrating new governance approaches into existing national and international frameworks was discussed by the panelists.

Prof. Marc Jacobs draw attention to the challenges of Operational Directive 14; in a reflection entitled: “More options and outcomes needed. Beyond the broad way of continental convergence and the narrow way via discontinuous areas.”

Dr Andrzej Jakubowski delineated the modalities and challenges of participatory governance of cultural heritage from an international law perspective.

Dr Maja Kominko presented her view from experience of working on cultural protection projects in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Ukraine.

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13.40-13.55
Coffee break

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13.55-14.55
Intangible Cultural Heritage and Public Governance in the City

moderator
Jorijn Neyrinck
Director of Workshop Intangible Heritage Flanders

speakers
(alphabetical order)

Myroslava Keryk
President of the Ukrainian House in Warsaw

Katarzyna Kuzko-Zwierz
Head of the Warsaw Praga Museum / UNESCO Chair team member

dr Andrzej Szoka
Director of Intangible Heritage Interpretation Centre of Krakow

Exploring the nexus of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and the urban environment prompts discussions on how cities can serve as dynamic spaces for the preservation, promotion, and evolution of cultural traditions. Questions arise regarding the impact of rapid urbanization and globalization on the sustainability of intangible heritage. Discussion during the panel delved into the role of cities: city administration and city institutions of culture, museums included in safeguarding diverse intangible cultural expressions. Additionally, considerations about urban planning, with a focus on creating environments that respect and celebrate cultural diversity was addressed.

Dr Andrzej Szoka focused especially on the experiences of Intangible Heritage Interpretation Centre of Krakow.

Katarzyna Kuzko-Zwierz elaborated on the museum practices in the service of intangible cultural heritage and its bearers.

Myroslava Keryk discussed how Ukrainian cultural traditions and practices gained visibility in Warsaw in the last two years and how they can be a tool of resilience for Ukrainian refugees and migrants struggling with the trauma of war.

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14.55-15.10
Coffee break

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15.10-16.10
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Challenges for Public and Global Intangible Cultural Heritage Governance

moderator
prof. Bartosz Pieliński
University of Warsaw, Faculty of Political Sciences and International Studies / UNESCO Chair team member

speakers
(alphabetical order)

prof. Przemysław Biecek
University of Warsaw / Warsaw University of Technology

Piotr Górajec
Deputy Director of the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów

prof. dr. Rimvydas Laužikas
Department of Digital Cultures and Communication, Faculty of Communication, Vilnius University

Discussions about the revolutionary potential of generative AI for the cultural and heritage sector must take into account diverse and multifaceted issues. These issues include the cultural biases of existing Large Language Models (LLMs) on the one hand, and the potential of AI to preserve endangered and marginalized elements of our cultural diversity on the other. Questions arise as to how AI can be used to protect intangible cultural practices, traditions and expressions, including those associated with tangible objects. Ethical considerations are paramount: how can AI be applied in a culturally sensitive manner that respects the diverse values and beliefs embedded in AI? UNESCO recently published a global standard-setting document on ethics and AI. Getting AI governance right is one of the most consequential challenges of our time, and exploring the potential impact of AI on the transmission of oral traditions, folklore and traditional knowledge was another avenue for discussion.

Prof. Biecek focused especially on how the representativeness of the data translates into the behavior of the AI model, including how marginalized groups or cultures can be increasingly marginalized by the Generative AI systems.

Piotr Górajec presented a vision of the use of Artificial Intelligence in museums and the cultural sector.

Prof. Lauzikas discussed the role of AI as an analytical tool in the field of intangible cultural heritage.

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16.10-16.20
Closing remarks
prof. Hanna Schreiber

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All photos made by
Michał Radochoński/Projekt Kreatywny