Moldova to establish territorial registers for intangible cultural heritage

Today MPs adopted in final reading a draft law that provides for the establishment of territorial registers for intangible cultural heritage. The initiative was supported by 70 parliamentarians.

The new provisions stipulate that local public authorities will develop and update the territorial registers, in accordance with regulations approved by the Ministry of Culture. These registers, together with heritage files, will be accessible to the public on the official websites of local authorities.

At the same time, in the context of institutional reorganization, the responsibility for completing and updating the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage will lie with the Institute of Cultural Heritage.

The project also includes changing the name of the National Center for the Conservation and Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which will become the National Center for Traditional Culture. Among the new responsibilities of the Center are attesting amateur artistic groups and monitoring local activities related to the elements listed in the UNESCO Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Furthermore, the responsibilities of the National Commission for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage will be expanded. It will advise on the accreditation files of experts in the field, the project sketches for making traditional costumes requested by public institutions, and evaluate projects intended for heritage safeguarding.