The Imaterial is born out of a specific local context, from the crossroads of built heritage and intangible heritage. It is committed to unite the two and to stir up reflections around these heritages. From the very first edition of Imaterial, we will be holding a Conference on Intangible Heritage of Humanity in order to feed the discussion and reflection on these themes, bringing together several of the world’s greatest experts on these matters. Through a set of parallel conferences, we will be promoting discussions around intangible and built heritage, and the contemporary relationship with regional inheritances.

Thus, in the presence of leading field experts and an extensive number of international guests (journalists, programmers and influencers), this conference will provide several opportunities to share experiences and knowledge about the responsibilities and challenges around traditions and living expressions. Granted that it’s not always possible to preserve these heritages in a museum, its preservation is directly linked to the creation of the necessary survival conditions for future generations.

We can only understand our role by indulging in collective thinking and by listening to those who have investigated and worked closely with these unique and incomparable local events. As a piece of a long chain it is crucial to know how to foresee beyond the short-term timespan - the present.

Marc Lints presents the Initiative Inscription of Creole Cultures in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, telling us about the various ongoing cultural cooperation projects between the Creole peoples of the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic and the Caribbean. The initiative concerns to a proposal addressed to these Creole communities to inscribe their legacies on the World Heritage List, appealing, at the same time, on the preservation of specific artistic practices and on the awareness of artists and institutions to promote their cultures.

MARC LINTS

Independent consultant to the European Commission; Manager of the group Creoles Cultures/Kiltir Kreiol/Cultures Créoles of the Seychelles Foundation for Creole Culture

What are we talking about when we talk about Intangible World Heritage? A conference to think and reflect on the importance of music and dance in building a collective identity. Following on this initial challenge, we will discuss the positive and negative effects of the inclusion of various expressions in the UNESCO list, but also the effects of migratory movements on local cultures and the common responsibility for these expressions of recognised importance to tell the history of humanity.

PAULO LIMA

Anthropologist; Member of the Executive Committee of Fado application for the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO; Coordinator of applications from Cante Alentejano, Fabrico de Chocalho and Morna (Cape Verde) to the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.

ISABEL SOFFER

Co-founder and co-director of the Global Fest (New York, USA); Co-founder of The Generators; Founder of the Live Sounds program

SAMI SADAK

Ethnomusicologist; Professor of the Masters Degree in Mediterranean Heritage Conservation at the University of Aix Marseille (France); Artistic Director of the World Music Forum Babel Med Music

LUCY DURÁN

Professor of Music in West Africa and Cuba at SOAS University (London, United Kingdom); Author of the documentary Growing into Music in Mali and Tegere Tulon: Handclapping Songs of Mali; Music producer of albums by Toumani Diabaté, Bassekou Kouyaté or Trio Da Kali

Moderator BIRGIT ELLINGHAUS

Director of the agency Alba KULTUR; Member of the Advisory Council for Cultural Diversity on the German National Culture Committee; Publisher of Heaven and Earth; Curator and director of the Klangkosmos NRW network; Programmer of world music cycles at the Old Opera House in Frankfurt and Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg

Paul Dujardin picks up again on the concept of the original Bauhaus (1919-1933) as an artistic movement that valued the humanist perspective and the importance of collaboration, as a means to stand against nationalist and individualist tendencies, and questions how we can go back to these values today in a globalised world. If Bauhaus searched for new social models that would support the transition from the 19th to the 20th century, now what can we rescue from these teachings that will allow us to deal with the technology that connects us constantly with the whole world, with global financial crisis, with insatiable capitalism or with climate change? A look at the past as a way to better think and build the future.

PAUL DUJARDIN

Former CEO and Artistic Director of the Palais des Beaux-Art, BOZAR (Brussels, Belgium); Collaborator of the New European Bauhaus Collective; Vice-President of the European Festivals Association; Member of the board of the International Music Council

A first glimpse on the work and research of a new laboratory dedicated to cultural heritage, based at the University of Évora, but also involving the Universidade Nova de Lisboa and the Universidade do Minho, and funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology. According to its transdisciplinary nature, IN2PAST brings together specialists in chemistry, architecture, musical studies, art history and anthropology, melding different areas of knowledge with the purpose of studying and intervening in the areas of cultural heritage, museums, arts and memory policies.

ANTÓNIO CANDEIAS

Chemist; Researcher of the Hercules Laboratory; Vice Rector of the Universidade de Évora.

MARTA PRISTA

Anthropologist; Researcher of the Center in Anthropology Research Network

JOANA CUNHA LEAL

Art historian; President of the Institute of Art History of Universidade Nova de Lisboa

JORGE CORREIA

Architect; Coordinator of Lab2PT University of Minho

MANUEL PEDRO FERREIRA

Musicologist; President of the Center for Studies in Sociology and Musical Aesthetics of Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Professor at the Universidade de Évora

MODERADORES:

FÁTIMA NUNES

Historian; Professor at the Universidade de Évora; Scientific Coordinator of the Institute of Contemporary History

JOSÉ NEVES

Historian; Professor at Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Contemporary History; Director of the journal Practices of History