Events

Sustaining Intangible Cultural Practices in Contexts of Forced Displacement

Over 120 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide, and this number is expected to continue rising. Displaced people often face significant barriers to maintaining and passing on their intangible cultural practices, including oral traditions, performing arts, traditional crafts, rituals, and festive events. These challenges can add to the challenges of displacement: cultural practices play a vital role in wellbeing, identity, and social connection. When such practices are disrupted, international efforts to safeguard at-risk intangible cultural heritage are also undermined.

Sustaining Intangible Cultural Practices in Contexts of Forced Displacement has three key aims:

  • to map existing knowledge about the main challenges involved in practising, passing on, and sustaining cultural practices in situations of forced displacement, and to identify possible solutions;
  • to identify practical ways for displaced individuals and groups of people to sustain their cultural practices, and for host societies, governments, civil society organisations, researchers, and others to support those cultural practices and their human bearers; and
  • to develop and share resources that inform research, policy, and practical initiatives aimed at supporting cultural sustainability in contexts of forced displacement.

WUN is providing funding to support this work, including the activities of local working groups, the international working symposium, and the dissemination of project outcomes.

2026 IDDRR Event – AICCM 2026 disaster calendar launch and panel discussion

Please join AICCM and BSA for discussion around the theme:  Resilience Starts at Home

 

Australian Disaster Resilience Conference,  

Melbourne 19-20 August 2026

 

19th International Conference on the Inclusive Museum, The Future of Museum Narratives,

Chau Chak Wing Museum at Sydney University 22-24 September 2026.

 

AMaGA National Conference Together: people, power and politics, 

3-5 November in Canberra. The theme is Together: people, power and politics