National Intangible Heritage Center, Jeonju, South Korea

National Intangible Heritage Center is in charge of affairs concerning the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, lore, research, investigation, records management, dissemination and promotion seconded Republic of Korea Culture is the institution’s. It was founded on September 17, 2013 and is located at 95 Seohak-ro, Wansan gu, Jeonju si, Jeollabuk do.

ICH (Intangible Cultural Heritage) is ‘living cultural Heritage’, which is practiced and passed down by human through history.

NIHC (National Intangible Heritage Center) is the first complex administrative institution for safeguarding and transmission of korean ICH.

NIHC is consist of various facilities such as permanent/special exhibition galleries, performance halls, archives, international conference rooms, learning spaces.

The primary roles of NIHC are safeguarding, transmitting, and fostering ICH through research, archiving, exhibitions, performances, educational programs, support for the Masters of ICH, and extension of the market of traditional crafts.

NIHC will be a hub of Korean ICH and a core of international network of ICH. NIHC actively cooperates with Asian-Pacific nations, nations of Africa, Europe, and America.

The true owners of NIHC are successors of ICH and the people. NIHC focuses upon providing the most valuable experience about ICH to our visitors. Thank you very much.

History
February 27, 2006: Established basic plan for building the Asia-Pacific Intangible Cultural Heritage Hall.

August 28, 2012: National Intangible Heritage Foundation Establishment Promotion Team established.

September 17, 2013: National Intangible Heritage Center established as a cultural property agency.

Intangible Cultural Heritage
Cultural heritages, the valuable inheritance from our ancestors, embrace the wisdom of life to reflect what we have gone through historically. Some heritages like castle, tombs, statues of Buddha, which we can usually see during field trips, paintings, pottery, and old books are tangible, while others like pansori (a traditional Korean style of narrative song) and talchum (a mask dance) are intangible and need human performance as a medium.

In addition, certain natural features are also in cultural heritages in the name of natural monuments. These natural heritages are considered to be preserved because they have important implications to make people’s daily life affluent.

Facilities

Inheritance Center
Inheritance Centers have been built up and operated to provide successors of intangible heritages with proper space to practice traditional skills.

Since 1974, 153 inheritance centers (290 kinds of cultural heritages are included both in national and local centers) of intangible cultural heritages have been established and operated nationwide with supports from the national and local governments.

Performance Hall
Grand and small performance halls for various events focused on intangible heritage
Regular and special performances of intangible cultural heritage
Invited performances of intangible cultural heritage
Invited performances of intangible heritage on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Permanent Exhibition Hall/ICHCAP
Space for permanent exhibitions of intangible heritage, as well as for the storage, reading and exhibition of archives
Permanent exhibition hall 1 and 2 introduce the meaning of intangible heritage
Archives repository, Computer operation room

Training Center
Space for sharing where transmission education and social education can be conducted in an integrative manner Operating education courses on intangible heritage targeting successors, professionals and public
Crafts training room, Performing arts training room
Seminar room

Special Exhibition Hall/Larchiveum
Special Exhibition Hall for various features
Special Exhibition Hall
Traditional Crafts Exhibition Shop “Daedaesonson”

Creating a cooperative system for intangible heritage at home and abroad Hosting seminars and conferences on intangible heritage
International conference Hall
Simultaneous Interpretation rooms
Seminar room

Administration
Offices and conference rooms
Accommodation
Accomodation for participants in transmission education programs and successors

Mission
The global complex cultural institution for the safeguarding, inheritances, exchanges, and revitalization of ICH (intangible cultural heritage)

Vision
To establish our cultural identity, the right to enjoy culture, and culture. diversity through the creative inheritance of intangible heritage and the expansion of related values.

The NIHC pledges to safeguard and nurture of our intangible heritage as a living culture through its preservation, transmission and interaction, as a culture that breathes with the times through creative inheritance and dissemination of values, and as a culture that is experienced in our daily lives.

Strategy
Establishing the system of virtuous circle for the preservation and utilization of ICH Supporting the transmission and promoting the value of ICH Exchange activities among experts at home and abroad Developing the visibility and the bond of sympathy through activation projects

Supporting transmission
systemized support for intangible heritage transmission

Preparing a system for transmission activities alongside the korean people.

NIHC plan and support various projects for intangible heritage inheritors to actively participate in transmission activities.

NIHC contribute to the enhancing right to enjoy culture by expanding the relevant awareness and participation of public through a wide range of promotion activities regarding the transmission of intangible heritage.

Support for traditional crafts revitalization projects

Drawing a future and vision for traditional craftwork.

NIHC draw future vision for traditional by promoting the excellence of our traditional craftwork and through providing various supports including design consulting and promotion to a successor of traditional craftsmanship.

Performances and exhibitions
Popularizing and branding intangible heritage performances

Providing more frequent and convenient access to intangible heritage performances of a higher quality.

NIHC prepare performances to provide easier access to rare forms of intangible heritage. We create opportunities to broaden the understanding of intangible heritage through special performances by trained performers of National Intangible Cultural Heritage and invited foreign Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from around the world. Visit the NIHC every Saturday for more intimate experience of our intangible heritage.

Enhancing the quality of intangible heritage exhibition and experiences

Offering high-quality exhibitions and vivid experiences to bring intangible heritage closer to daily life.

NIHC endeavor to provide in-depth experiences of intangible heritage within historical and cultural contexts by displaying relevant works, artifacts, and records. Facilitating a deeper understanding of intangible heritage located in Korea and abroad, We hold themed exhibitions in spring, special exhibitions of overseas intangible cultural heritage in autumn, and special exhibitions of Korean intangible heritage which was inscribed on the UNESCO representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in winter. In particular, hands-on programs will offer convenient opportunities for both adults and children to experience and learn about intangible heritage.

You will feel close to intangible heritage while observing the remains of national intangible cultural assets.
Hall of Korean Intangible Cultural Heritagethe light that never disappears
A Documentary about the people holding national intangible cultural assets, the tools that they would use, and clothes that they would wear, will help you feel the efforts that they put forth to transmit our intangible cultural heritage. You can indirectly meet cultural heritage holders through the videos of their production processes and their stage performances. You can also indirectly experience intangible cultural assets by listening to Arirang, watching mask dances, and participating in ‘Dancheong’ painting.

Managing archives and research
Establishing an intangible heritage database through surveys and research

Documenting and accumulating all aspects of intangible heritage.

NIHC prepare the basis for intergenerational transmission by accumulating basic data for the safeguarding of intangible heritage, through surveys, research and documentation with regard to intangible heritage, which often lacks a standardized form. The data collected through this process is utilized in various ways including contents for education and broadcasts.

Systemizing the collection and management of intangible heritage data and expanding its accessibility

NIHC share knowledge on intangible cultural heritage, culture and spend time refreshing our minds.

Larchiveum is a comprehensive library where we can find knowledge and culture, as well as refresh our minds. Larchiveum is a newly coined word that combines library, archives and museum. We have added the public library function to the intangible cultural heritage data reference room function. About 20,000 books related to intangible cultural heritage, donated books, and various kinds of audio/visual materials are aveailable.

Exchange and cooperation
Enhancing training and operational capacity regarding intangible heritage

Presenting opportunities and venues for the transmission of intangible heritage through various education programs.

National Intangible Heritage Center provide various intangible heritage training courses to lay the groundwork for successive practitioners to maintain and transmit intangible heritage systematically, and offer opportunities for people to participate in intangible heritage education.

Expanding the base for the protection and revitalization of regional intangible heritage

Providing support to protect and revitalize regional intangible heritage.

National Intangible Heritage Center conduct research and hold diverse events such as seminars, performances, and exhibitions in cooperation with local governments.

In order to raise awareness of intangible heritage preservation among the public, we seek to establish a strategic system that protects and transmits from generation to generation intangible heritage in local communities.

Protecting and promoting the transmission of the Korean’s intangible heritage abroad

Protecting our intangible heritage across the world and enhancing support for its transmission.

National Intangible Heritage Center inspire a sense of national identity among overseas Korean communities and contribute to self-motivated efforts towards the dissemination and transmission of intangible heritage in foreign countries, by operating overseas courses and invitational training programs targeted at expatriate Korean communities.