Category Archives: intangible cultural heritage
Finnish Baby Buggy Bumper: Finland’s “Maternity Package” as Cultural Heritage
In 1938, the Finnish government introduced the Maternity Grants Act. That year, Finland’s expectant mothers each received a baby shower of supplies for their newborn. All-weather clothing, health and hygiene products, bedding, a toy–these were some of life’s bare necessities … Continue reading
Harris Tweed is Back!…or Never Really Went Anywhere
Mills producing Harris Tweed dot the landscape at Ballalan, Outer Hebrides, date unknown (photo credit: Harris Tweed Authority Archive) Three years ago I wrote a piece about the apparent decline of the Harris Tweed weaving industry in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides (see: … Continue reading
Endangered Breton Language Faces Extinction
In previous posts I have explored the alarming issue of language loss as it relates to the preservation (and extinction) of collective human knowledge and world cultures. Whether reporting the death of the last living member of the Bo language group, discussing the … Continue reading
Nike Helps Revitalize Harris Tweed Industry
In late 2004, Nike, the multinational sportwear company, completed a signature line of sneakers called The Terminator. They intended to update the retro style of The Terminator, a basketball shoe originally released in the 1980s. Typically, Nike will commission high-profile … Continue reading
African Dance, Heritage on Display in Brooklyn
An interesting cultural heritage article, “So, You Think It’s African Dance?” by Alastair Macaulay, appeared in the Arts section of the New York Times last week (18 May 2010). Macaulay takes as his starting point the upcoming DanceAfrica festival, held annually by the Brooklyn … Continue reading
Culture in Peril 