'Controversial Intangible Cultural Heritage' file: Unia in Belgium launches report on Carnival Aalst

The Interfederal Equal Opportunity Center Unia in Belgium is in favor of giving carnival, other folk festivals and large-scale intangible cultural heritage practices a more inclusive appearance. Local organizers and partners can play an important role in this. That is one of the recommendations made by Unia in a report drawn up after the debate about the float with Jewish caricatures at Carnival Aalst. Our Flemish colleague organization, Taskforce Intangible Cultural Heritage, was involved in the dialogue that was set up around this and ensured contextualization from an intangible heritage perspective.

" According to Unia - certainly within the very specific context of carnival - there has been no deliberate incitement to hatred, discrimination or violence against Jews. (...) But this report is more than a legal analysis. We do not want to ignore a broader discussion : how can we make old folk customs fit into today's super-diverse society? If we succeed, we will have folk feasts where everyone counts, "says Unia director Els Keytsman.

" And let that be precisely the spirit of the 2003 UNESCO Convention, which promotes Taskforce Intangible Cultural Heritage in Flanders and Brussels, " said Jorijn Neyrinck, coordinator Taskforce Intangible Cultural Heritage and member of the Flemish UNESCO Committee.

The Unia report is sent to UNESCO, among others. You can download the report from the Intangible Heritage Workplace website.