An exhibition of beldemchi was launched at the Gapar Aitiev Fine Arts Museum in Bishkek on 7 June 2017. The exhibition is still ongoing through the partnership of the Kiyiz Duino Foundation and the Gapar Aitiev Fine Arts Museum, an institution named after one of the first Soviet Kyrgyz artists who became a national artist of the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic in 1954. The exhibition displays more than forty items collected from state museums and private collections. It represents all regions of the country and various embroidery styles and techniques. The event is a sign of increasing interest in beldemchi in Kyrgyz society; renowned designers are already coming up with unique beldemchi design.\n\nOne of the Kyrgyz ICH elements, beldemchi is a traditional women’s skirt worn over a dress, gown, and sometimes thin coat. Conventionally, women wear their first beldemchi after a severe stress, e.g. first labor or situations demanding warmth. When worn as postpartum clothing, beldemchi helps women correcting their posture. It also gives physical support. Historically, as Kyrgyz people led a nomadic lifestyle in inland continental climate conditions during pre-Soviet times until 1917, beldemchi was an essential part of Kyrgyz women’s traditional apparel.\n\nBeldemchi may be worn daily and in holidays or festive events. It is made up of velvet and silk adorned with embroidery. The embroidery could cover either the whole skirt or its edges. Viewed as a protective amulet against evil eye, jinxes, and other unpleasant troubles, it is also a determinant of a woman’s age, social status, region, and her artistic skills based on the composition, style, and quality of the embroidery since every woman is supposed to know how to make a beldemchi and its embroidery. The main base of beldemchi is a double-leaved swing skirt with wide and thick belt. Beldemchi has several regional differences. In the north where the winter season is cold and long, it is mainly a wraparound flared skirt from warm fabric with a thick band over the belt. In the south, beldemchi is a buttoned front open cut skirt.\n\nThe presentation of beldemchi at the exhibition displays how the making of traditional clothing for women has gradually turned into a field of rich female creativity. Notwithstanding, beldemchi has started to disappear from Kyrgyz everyday life, which may have been caused by the changing views and lifestyle. During the Soviet modernism in the 1960s, wearing beldemchi was a sign of backwardness and provincialism. Soon in the 1970s, it fell into disuse. However, elderly women in rural areas have kept wearing beldemchi until now.\n\nPhoto : Women wearing Beldemchi © Kyiz Duino Fund

제6차 중앙아시아 무형유산 보호협력 네트워크 회의 2015 국가발표 (1)

Kyrgyz people's oral tradition has been forming for centuries and is one of the key elements of cultural heritage. All experiences and knowledge has been transmitted orally from generation to generation. Kyrgyz people's oral traditions contributed a great deal to the world's intangible cultural heritage.

Folk traditions of Kyrgyz people have evolved along with Kyrgyz people and have been transmitted from generation to generation. They represent a complex cultural phenomenon. Traditions and customs have been shaped by a nomadic lifestyle. At the same time, the best adaptations were passed from older generation to younger generation's everyday life due to uninterrupted link between generations.

제6차 중앙아시아 무형유산 보호협력 네트워크 회의 2015 국가발표 (2)

Traditional handicrafts have been influenced a great deal by surrounding natural landscapes. Such elements of traditional Kyrgyz handicraft like felt carpets, traditional outfits, jewelry, horse tack and musical instruments reflect not only the artistic aspirations of the people but also the intricacies of Kyrgyz spirit.

Traditional ecological knowledge and values are important for sustainability. Traditional ecological knowledge of Kyrgyz people is an evolving body of knowledge, which has been accumulated for many centuries. It contains information about the environment and peoples' interactions within it. The desire to keep connections to nature is reflected in Kyrgyz traditions, customs and rituals such as the tradition of visiting sacred natural sites, the knowledge and skills on natural resources management, traditional medicine and veterinary, etc.

Traditional Kyrgyz games have a centuries-old history. They have been preserved and passed on to us through generations having accumulated best nomadic spiritual values and traditions. Traditional games help to develop social skills, integrity and improve physical development.

Traditional Kyrgyz cusine has been evolving for centuries and adapting to new conditions. Traditional recipes, ways of cooking and storing food are intrinsically linked to lifestyles change, many customs and traditions remain unchanged in local communities.

This booklet details the benefits of integrating living heritage into schools, and it explains the difference between teaching about ICH and teaching with ICH.\n\nThe second booklet, “Why Teach with Living Heritage?” has four parts:\n▶ Living heritage in education\n▶ Teaching and learning about living heritage \n▶ Teaching and learning with living heritage\n▶ The benefits of teaching and learning about and with living heritage

This booklet provides suggestions on how school principals and managers can work with teachers and community members to support the process of bringing living heritage into education.\nTo learn more about living heritage and how bringing it to schools can help to both improve quality of education and safeguard the community’s heritage, see Booklet 1 and Booklet 2 of this Resource Kit.

This booklet explains what living heritage is, as well as why and how it should be safeguarded.\n\nThe “What is Living Heritage?” booklet has three parts:\n▶ What is heritage?\n▶ Communities of living heritage\n▶ Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage