Federal State Office for Intangible Cultural Heritage, North Rhine-Westphalia

Intangible cultural heritage includes customs, rituals, festivities, performing arts, oral expressions, knowledge and skills that are passed down from generation to generation and evoke feelings of identity, continuity and community. In 2013, the Federal Republic of Germany ratified the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of 2003. The state is thus responsible for identifying, describing and preserving the cultural expressions on its territory. To implement the Convention in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, its Ministry of Culture and Science has set up the Federal State Office for Intangible Cultural Heritage at Paderborn University. Since December 2015, under the direction of Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Seng, it has been providing scientifically sound information and advice in the process of inscription onto the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of North Rhine-Westphalia and other national and international inventories. Groups and communities that practice living traditions are supported free of charge by the Federal State Office during the application process.