18 April 2011: The Cultural Heritage of Water

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    International Day for Monuments and Sites 2011 - Theme

    In response to a proposal by ICOMOS, 18 April was designated as The International Day for Monuments and Sites by UNESCO in 1982. Each year a theme is selected to help focus the celebration and promotion of cultural heritage across the world. The aim is to explore cultural heritage beyond the select group of sites on the World Heritage List and to encourage local communities and individuals to consider the importance of cultural heritage to their lives, identities and communities. The theme agreed for 2011 is the ‘Cultural Heritage of Water’.

    Water is one of the key resources required to sustain life. It has led to the development and generation of significant material culture in the form of items, technology and places. How to obtain it, how to store it, how to harness its power and conserve it has motivated human endeavour in a myriad of ways.  It has also been the catalyst for the development of significant cultural practices which have generated intangible cultural heritage values. It has inspired poetry, literature, artistic endeavour such as painting, dance and sculpture.  It has informed and inspired the development of philosophies and religious practice. The cultural heritage of water, therefore relates not only to the technology and architecture that humankind has developed to manage, utilise and celebrate its life giving properties but also to those intangible values that have shaped our beliefs and practices.

    Download the essay "The cultural heritage of water" by Dr. Susan McIntyre-Tamwoy (Australia ICOMOS/James Cook University) (PDF, 1.6 MB)
    Download Spanish version (PDF, 1.5 MB)

    Download the Bibliography on Water and cultural Heritage (PDF, 1.31 MB)

    Download the 18 April flyer - English - French (PDF, KB)


    Events at the national level

    Countries involved (ICOMOS Committees and other organizations):

    Australia
    Armenia
    Bosnia-Herzegovina
    Bulgaria
    Canada
    Chile
    Costa Rica
    Crotia
    Cyprus (North)
    Finland
    Georgia
    Germany
    Greece
    Hungary
    India
    Ireland
    Italy

    Macedonia
    Mauritius
    Nepal
    New Zealand
    Pakistan
    Peru
    Philippines
    Portugal
    Romania
    Serbia
    Seychelles
    Slovenia
    South Africa
    Spain
    Turkey
    United Arab Emirates
    Venezuela


    Other events
    - ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Historic Towns and Villages (CIVVIH)
    - UNESCO

    Resources

    - UN/UNESCO
    - EUROMED Heritage IV
    - REMEE and HAMMAMED projects
    - National resources
    - Other

     


    If you are planning an event linked to 18 April or its theme – please inform the International Secretariat as soon as possible at secretariat[at]icomos.org