The ICH festivals in the Kyrgyz Republic are a great way to safeguard the cultural heritage. Kyrgyzstan has a rich ICH and embraces all ICH domains including the oral traditions andexpressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive event, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship. Festivals feature various ICH domains such as arts and crafts, cuisine, folklore, felt, hunting with birds, horse games, etc. For instance, the festivals Kyrgyz Shyrdagy and the Oimo International Festival are held with the aim of safeguarding and popularizing traditional knowledge and skills of handicrafts, for safeguarding and promoting traditional games, various birds of prey festivals are held, such as Salbuurun and Kok Boru. Moreover, festivals are dedicated to safeguarding oral traditions, such as Aitysh, the art of improvisation as well as many other festivals reflecting traditional cuisine, folklore, etc.

Kyrgyzstan, officially called the Kyrgyz Republic, is a small mountainous country in Central Asia with a population of around six million people. The Kyrgyz Republic shares borders with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. The Kyrgyz Republic gained its independence in 1991 after the downfall of the Soviet Union. About 80 percent of the populations are ethnic Kyrgyz. The other 20 percent consists of ethnic Russians, Uzbeks, Ukrainians, Tatars, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Dungans, Koreans, and other groups. The Kyrgyz people overwhelmingly consider themselves Muslim. The Kyrgyz Republic ratified the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006 and became one of the first Central Asian State Parties to the Convention. Also, the Kyrgyz Republic will continue to be a member of the Intergovernmental Committee until 2016.

Moderator to Participants: The participants commonly addressed intangible cultural heritage festivals’ influence and effects on local communities. Safeguarding local intangible cultural heritage is very important, and ICH festivals are key cultural events for celebrating world ICH and have had a positive effect on economic tourism as well as the social and cultural sectors of the governments hosting them. Today, for all speakers, why is community participation is important in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage? You answered that communities play an important role in production and safeguarding as well as the maintenance and recreation of the ICH. Then you also raised the question, how to strengthen the role of communities? You have answered that groups and individuals concerned should be encouraged to help them safeguard intangible cultural heritage. I would like to suggest a small question to all of you. Local community engagement is very important; however, to encourage local communities to engage in cultural heritage, there may be tasks and challenges, for example how to raise awareness of those issues and how to set priorities and draw attention. As far as the central government we need to consider how to get over dependency for financial support and how to build strategic relationships and partnerships with international institutions and communities. In sum, I am asking to facilitate local communities’ engagement in intangible cultural heritage. What would be the major challenges?