Intangible Heritage (ICH) Researchers Network

The Intangible Heritage Research Network aims to disseminate a wide range of research, publications, conferences, courses and events among those interested in the subject. We consider the role of ICH as a concept and practice to be fundamental in identifying and shaping the cultural identity of nations at different levels. Our members come from all continents and from diverse professional backgrounds, communities, institutions and NGOs.

Our aim is to address contemporary perspectives, problems and challenges in order to better understand the importance of its meanings, functions and practices - past and present - in order to facilitate collective and accessible research in this field.

In the last decade, there has been a considerable increase in academic and cultural events that have brought together diverse groups of people who research and seek to safeguard Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) at different levels, from international to local. In consideration of this we disseminate in a bimonthly newsletter for Network members.

If you wish to join the ICH Network, please select ‘Intangible Heritage' under ‘Chapters and Networks’ in your Member Profile in the ACHS Member Directory.

ICH Network Co-Coordinators

AlAnood AlShaikh, PhD.

AlAnood possesses a unique perspective on the contextualisation, institutionalisation, heritagisation, and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. Her managerial and research work focuses on the heritage-making processes and under-recognised intangible meanings, narratives, practices, and values of heritage by official bodies in the conservation, interpretation, and procedure of inscription of elements on the UNESCO’s heritage lists - including processes of cultural monitoring, documentation of local heritage, and the transmission of community and context-based traditional practices that are integral to protecting World Heritage values and attributes. Her current qualifications allow connecting multifaceted and interdisciplinary cultural approaches that prospects living heritage as a driving force for sustainable development that is often overlooked despite its economic and social significance; hence offering holistic and reconciliation approach to the intangibility of World Heritage.

Emilia Raggi

Emilia Raggi Lucio holds a BA in History (1998) and a MA in Art History. She is a PhD candidate with the research "Las flores y su representación entre los nahuas en la época de la conquista: entre la lírica sagrada y la retórica del poder" (UNAM). Specialist in Cultural Management and Cultural Policies (OEI, UAM), Master's degree in Audiovisual Creation and Communication for Interactive Media (Ramón Lull University of Barcelona), and Advanced Training in Gestalt Art Therapy (Gestalt Art Therapy Centre, Australia).

As a cultural manager, she has worked at the Ministry of Culture (Mexico) in various dissemination, research, and publication roles. She also worked as a cultural manager, carrying out various communication tasks related to ICTs and Cultural Heritage in public and private institutions.

Member of various PAPIIT research projects at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) since 1998, where she has worked on topics related to the art of indigenous peoples and has also carried out various academic work. Member of the Conacyt Thematic Network on Digital Technologies for the Dissemination of Cultural Heritage (INAH, Conacyt).

She has taught workshops on art therapy projects and taught at various private and public institutions, and has been a visiting professor on projects within the Program to Support Projects for Innovation and Improvement in Teaching (PAPIME, UNAM), including "Indigenous Through Art: Expression and Education."

Member of the editorial board of the journal Epitafios, la otra historia. Academic advisor to the Armella-Spitalier Foundation, where she has written several publications on Indigenous art in the Americas.

The ICH network was set up by Dr. Harriet Deacon and has a committee of 21 members: