Madeira Wine Traditions Application to the UNESCO ICH List: Promoting Community Participation
By António José Marques da Silva
This communication analyses the fundamental role of community participation in applications to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) List, using the Madeira wine traditions as a case study.
Active community participation is central to the nomination of the Madeira Wine Traditions. This includes informed consent, oral testimonies, and collaboration in the preparation of the nomination dossier. A total of 72 audio interviews were conducted with members of the Madeira wine community. In parallel, public events and media outreach activities were organised to raise public awareness and promote community engagement.
This case demonstrates how a community-centred approach can contribute to the safeguarding of living heritage, while also empowering those who keep it alive.
Invited communication at the UNESCO ICH Evaluation Conference and International Stockfish Heritage Meeting, in Finnmark, from 12 to 16 June 2025.
The UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Evaluation Conference and the International Stockfish Heritage Meeting will take place from 12 to 16 June 2025, in the breathtaking Nordkyn Peninsula, in Finnmark, Norway. Organised by Bivdu.no, in partnership with Visit Nordkyn, this gathering brings together experts, cultural organisations, chefs, academics, policymakers, and traditional producers from around the world to explore and celebrate the cultural value of stockfish traditions within the broader framework of UNESCO-recognised intangible heritage.
Held in Mehamn, the event combines conference sessions, cultural exchanges, and field visits. Key topics include the UNESCO nomination process, sustainable resource management, Sámi cultural perspectives, and international collaborations.
The conference will also highlight examples of community-driven nominations, such as the case of the Madeira wine traditions and the German stockfish initiative.
Under the mediation of renowned academic Prof. Carl W. Matthias Kaiser, and featuring distinguished guests from Norway, Italy, Iceland, Nigeria, among other countries, the programme included:
- Visits to Sámi cultural sites and stockfish producers
- A dedicated culinary programme for local and international chefs and students
- Networking opportunities for artisanal stockfish companies
- A Calabrian-Nordic festive dinner dedicated to stockfish
- Public tastings and cultural activities for the local community
The event was supported by the local municipalities, the Norwegian National UNESCO Commission, and various international partners.
This conference offered a unique opportunity to strengthen international cooperation around intangible cultural heritage, forge alliances between the cultural and culinary sectors, and support the safeguarding of traditional knowledge in the Arctic and beyond.
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