1.    Overview

A.    Project Title: Developing Kazakhstan ICH Database Online and Digital Contents in relation to the ichLinks (2020 to 2021)

B.    Purpose of the Project: 

Kazakhstan National ICH Committee in 2012-2018 had identified 48 ICH elements, some of it were properly documented and 10 elements were inscribed at the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. However, there is a limited knowledge about Kazakhstan ICH both worldwide and in the country. The project will address the following challenges: (1) proper and adequate information about national elements through ICHCAP/ichLinks existing and new mechanisms; (2) design and support of the national ICH Web-site using of ichLinks formats with translation to Kazakh and Russian; and (3) identifying the effective formats of ICH knowledge dissemination by means of IT tools in close cooperation with ICH communities and bearers

C.    Project Period: November 2020 - November 2021

D.    Executing Organization: ICH Kazakhstan National Committee

E.    Collaborating Organization(s): Uly Tagzym, NGO accredited with the Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention (2003), Art Invest, NGO in the field of creative art education and cultural heritage

2. Implemented Activities and Main Achievements

Activity 1: Establishment of the project team and launching activities

The core project team has been established, including:

Project coordinator / team leader (member of the National ICH Committee)

IT specialist (for web design and website management)

project assistant responsible for ICH documentation and its appropriate formatting in accordance to ichLinks instructions

financial administrator responsible for day-to-day accounting, payment records and book-keeping in accordance both to the national legislation and MOU requirements.

The team worked under coordination and reporting to the Chairperson of the ICH National Committee. The minimal office and conference equipment has been procured to ensure diligent digital quality and management of the ICH database for the project.

Activity 2: Sharing information on the valuable Kazakhstan ICH elements in the Asia-Pacific region.

The team discussed with ICHCAP the criteria for sample ICH data and conveyed to ichLinks/ICHCAP selected information and photos for the following 14 ICH elements (see Annex 2 for details):

- Nauryz (The New Year Holiday)

- Falconry, traditional hunting with birds of prey

- Aitys - art of music, and poetic contest improvisation as a between akyns (singers)

- Traditional knowledge and skills in making Kazakh Yurts

- Kazakh traditional art of Dombra kuy

- National Dombra Day celebration

- Heritage of Dede Qorqud/Korkyt Ata/Dede Korkut, epic culture, folk tales and music

- Kuresi in Kazakhstan - Kazakh national style of wrestling

- Orteke - Kazakh traditional art of music puppetry

- Kazakh traditional Assyk games

- Flatbread making and sharing culture: Lavash, Katyrma, Jupka, Yufka

- Betashar – Kazakh wedding

- Kazakh Carpetry

- Traditional Spring Festive Rites of the Kazakh Horse Breeders

Activity 3: Design of a mechanisms on reflection and dissemination of the ICH data

The project team in close cooperation with the experts' community under the ICH National Committee discussed the need of reflection and dissemination of Kazakhstan ICH data at national and local level. It was noted that UNESCO Paris official website (ICH page) provides the important datasheet about the recognized global ICH elements, its is more oriented to the officials and researches, rather than common public. The proposed ichLinks digital platform has the following advantages: the simple and user-friendly interface; accessibility through smartphones; link to popular social networks; introducing national and local ICH cultural features without special selection of registered/non-registered to the local or global cultural heritage lists; common public oriented style of information delivery.

The project team decided to follow the proposed ichLinks model in design of a 'mirror' Kazakhstan web-site and complement it with: (1) translation to Kazakh and Russian languages (which are common in Kazakhstan); (2) add more information about local ICH events and mapping of bearers and communities; (3) include contact information on the ICH bearers and local communities for direct communication. The specificity of the website will be in its targeting to present the ‘Living culture treasures of Kazakhstan’ and facilitate the links and presentation of the individual bearers, creative ICH groups and local communities involved.

The project team has discussed with ICH experts the desired items and components to be reflected at the web site. The team also selected the web designer and requested him to develop the draft web site appearance and consider its linkage to:

- Kazakhstan National Commission website

- UNESCO website ICH section

- ICHCAP/ichLinks websites (including the posts and materials related to Kazakhstan ICH elements)

- UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty (culture and ICH sections)

The Project Team developed a pilot version of a website on Living Heritage of Kazakhstan in three languages (Kazakhs, Russian and English). This website is expected to reflect the work on implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003). Now the pilot version is complemented with photo/text/video materials in connection with UNESCO ICHCAP/ichLinks Digital Platform Procedures. The website structure is attached in Annex 3:

ICH news of Kazakhstan and partners (UNESCO 2nd category centers, National Committees in bordering countries)

Geographical coverage of the ICH elements in Kazakhstan and presentation of the inventoried elements

Contact information for the ICH individual bearers, creative groups and local communities

ICH stories: featured articles about ICH elements and bearers

ICH good practice examples: presentation of successful safeguarding events and activities

Membership, structure and TOR for the ICH National Committee

The Project Team have collected more than 400 photos, 15 video films and 17 trailers for posting at the web site. The Secretariat of the National Commission for UNESCO and ISESCO negotiated the partnership between the ICH National Committee, Qazaq TV/Khabar Agency and ICHCAP/ichLinks (which is on legal review for now). In its turn the Project Team was engaged in design, support and conducting of the international webinar on Nauryz Festival celebration and handling of its traditions by youth. This webinar took place at the ancient City of Shymkent on 26 March 2021 and compiled of 76 participants from 12 countries, mainly from Asia Pacific region. Mr Tim Curtis, the Secretary of Convention, has addressed the webinar. Kazakhstan was honoured to get the addresses from three directors of the ICH/UNESCO regional centers – Mr Gi Hyung Keum (ICHCAP), Mr Olzhas Suleimennov (Almaty Centre for Rapprochement of Cultures) and Dr Mohammad Hussein Talebian (Tehran ICH Centre). Ms Jung Min Yung, representative of ICHCAP/ichLinks provided valuable overview of ichLinks project development and expected outcomes.Webinar Agenda is attached in Annex 4 and the record of the webinar is available at https://webwebinar.online/en/youth-and-nauryz-traditions-safeguarding-play/. The Webinar report is available on request and will be posted at the national Committee web site.

Activity 4: Establish direct contacts with ICH bearers and active local communities

The project team in cooperation with the Uly Tagzym (NGO which is accredited by the Convention Intergovernmental Committee) started in May 2021 the national survey for identifying of the ICH bearers and local communities and their commitment and inputs to the ICH safeguarding, implementation and knowledge transfer (the ICH Bearer/Expert registration card is attached in Annex 5). The ICH National Committee also approached to the Ministry of Culture and Sports (the authorized body for Convention implementation) to assist in establishing of communication with municipal authorities and local museums and cultural centers involved in ICH safeguarding. The project targeted to get feedback from 5 cultural centers, 30 ICH bearers and local communities, 40 experts and/or academic institutions. The activity included the online free-format conference to discuss frankly the status, issues and challenges of the ICH at grassroot level and design some recommendations for National ICH Committee and its experts for consideration.

The survey team in Kazakhstan was comprised of three experts and the team of volunteers involved by Uly Tagzym NGO (accredited with UNESCO IGC for Convention (2003)).  The Project team implemented survey in five Kazakhstan provinces and three metapolicies and has interviewed 92 artisans, local administration representatives, researches and local museum staff. 

Activity 6: Kazakhstan Online Forum for local communities and intangible cultural heritage bearers, artisans and craftsmen, museums staff, ICH researchers and experts (26-27 October 2021, Ulytau – Almaty, Kazakhstan)

The first Kazakhstan public forum targeted at safeguarding and promotion of the intangible cultural heritage has been conducted on October 26-27 in Ulytau, Karaganda Province, Kazakhstan. The Parliament of Kazakhstan had ratified UNESCO Convention (2003) in December 2011. For the last decade the intangible cultural heritage of Kazakhstan became visible and gained international recognition. Eleven cultural heritage elements were inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List, such as Nauryz (Ancient New Year Festival), qazaqsha kures (traditional wrestling), traditional hunting with eagles, Korkyt's heritage, yurta construction, traditional playing of Kazakh kyu, the Spring Holiday of horse breeders. An ancient intellectual Turkic game toguz-kumalak has completed the ongoing list in last year.

The Forum, which comprised about 70 participants, reviewed the issues of promotion and support of the Kazakhstan artisans and masters of applied art, and new dimensions of the local museums' activities. The members of the National ICH Committee – prof. Vassily Shakhgulary and prof. Evfrat Imambek - share the working plans on capacity-building and motivation of the artisans and ICH bearers. The directors of several local museums presented the new IT formats of presenting the intangible cultural heritage. Ms. Aizhan Bekkulova, President of the Union of Artisans of Kazakhstan, shared the challenges and indicated the areas for needed support. Mrs. Balgyn Salykova, Head of the Uly Tagzym NGO, and Mr. Baktiyar Kozhakhmetov presented the preliminary findings of the ICHCAP multi-country survey 'Festivals on the Great Silk Road' – the new UNESCO-ICHCAP project aimed to support artisans' workshops in Central Asia.

Activity 7: Contribution to the launching ceremony

The project team actively participated to ichLinks project events. Ms Anar Dutbayeva, Secretary-General of the National Commission for UNESCO and ISESCO, made an address on the occasion of the inauguration of the ichLinks Project on 15 March 2021. Prof. Myrzatay Zholdasbekov, Chairman of the ICH Kazakhstan National Committee and former Vice Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, has addressed the invitees and participants of the ichLinks Launching Ceremony on 27 May 2021. Both inauguration ceremony and launching ceremony were covered by Kazakhstan mass media. Dr Rustam Muzafarov, Deputy Chairman of the ICH Kazakhstan National Committee, made the presentation on ichLinks Project ongoing implementation in Kazakhstan and further ICH dimensions.

Activity 8: International Webinar on Digital Format of ICH Presenting (24 November 2021)

At the First Kazakhstan online public forum targeted at safeguarding and promotion of the intangible cultural heritage (October 26-27 in Ulytau, Karaganda Province, Kazakhstan) the ICH local communities and artisans expressed the wish to learn more from the other countries' good practices within the framework of the ICHCAP/ichLinks Project. Therefore, Kazakhstan ICH Committee decided to conduct on 24 November 2021 a technical webinar and invite project participating countries to share their experience and initial lessons learned. The agenda for webinar was compiled of two sections: (1) countries' good practice in revival of crafts, skills and traditions; and (2) New digital approaches in presentation of the cultural heritage of the Asia and Pacific. The webinar participants comprised of about 24 participants from Malaysia, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Viet Nam, Bhutan, Japan, Kazakhstan and ICHCAP. Due to technical reasons (lack of internet communication in Mongolia and Tajikistan) some presentations were shared among participants.