The 9th Intangible Cultural Heritage Winter School, organized within the framework of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, officially began in Samsun under the theme “Local Governments and Intangible Cultural Heritage Museums.”

Hosted by the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality, the opening program of the winter school was held at the Kızılırmak Delta Management Center, which is located within the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Tentative List, and brought together leading experts in the field.

The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Secretary General of the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Necmi Çamaş, Ondokuz Mayıs University Secretary General Prof. Dr. Erhan Burak Pancar, President of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO Prof. Dr. M. Öcal Oğuz, Vice Rector of Samsun University Prof. Dr. Ali Bilgin, and Middle Black Sea Development Agency Secretary General Mehlika Dicle.

Deputy secretary general Çamaş: “Keeping tangible and intangible heritage alive will make significant contributions to nations and cities”

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Secretary General of the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Necmi Çamaş drew attention to the value of efforts carried out in the field of intangible cultural heritage and stated:

“Looking back ten years, as someone who internalized and embraced every study carried out here, it is impossible for me to fully describe how valuable it is to once again speak before such a highly qualified audience years later and take pride in this hall. Throughout history, humanity has accumulated many elements. Preserving, researching, and transmitting these elements to the future is extremely important. I firmly believe that keeping tangible and intangible heritage alive in the lives of nations and cities, making efforts in this direction, and documenting these efforts will make significant contributions.”

Secretary general Prof. Dr. Pancar: “As OMU, we are ready to contribute to this process”

Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Secretary General Prof. Dr. Erhan Burak Pancar emphasized the role of universities in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. Prof. Dr. Pancar stated:

“As OMU, we are ready to contribute to the process of safeguarding, documenting, and transmitting intangible cultural heritage to future generations through our academic expertise, human resources, and institutional infrastructure. We attach great importance to all scientific studies, educational activities, and collaborations to be carried out in this field and consider it our responsibility to act together with all relevant stakeholders. Our university will continue to play an active role at every stage of this process.”

President of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO Prof. Dr. Oğuz: “Cultural heritage is our identity, our sense of belonging, and humanity’s shared memory”

President of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO Prof. Dr. M. Öcal Oğuz stated that safeguarding intangible cultural heritage is not merely about preserving the past, but about building the future, and said:

“Cultural heritage is our identity, our sense of belonging, and the shared memory of humanity. If we fail to protect cultural diversity, we cannot speak of a creative and innovative future.”

Recalling that UNESCO was founded on the principle that “wars begin in the minds of people, and peace must also be built in the minds of people,” Oğuz emphasized that Türkiye is among UNESCO’s founding member states and is currently represented on the Executive Board for the third time. He noted that “when there is competence and vision, it is possible to shape the direction of UNESCO.” Drawing attention to areas such as the Kızılırmak Delta, Oğuz highlighted that they carry not only natural but also cultural and mythological memory, and stated: “Intangible cultural heritage is the strongest carrier of peace, development, and cultural diversity.”

A rich and comprehensive program

The 9th Intangible Cultural Heritage Winter School, held on 18–19 January 2026, features presentations, panels, and group workshops on topics such as the intergenerational transmission of intangible cultural heritage; local governments and ICH museums; geomythology; urban memory and museology; UNESCO city networks; sustainable development and creative industries; and the musealization of handicrafts, gastronomy, performing arts, and traditional sports.

Within the scope of the program, many academics and experts, including Prof. Dr. M. Öcal Oğuz, Prof. Dr. Nizamettin Kazancı, Prof. Dr. Selcan Gürçayır Teke, Prof. Dr. Evrim Ölçer Özünel, Prof. Dr. Barış Alpaslan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emine Çakır, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Kasapoğlu, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Erman Aral, and Assist. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Safiye Baki Nalcıoğlu, are sharing their knowledge and experience.

Traditional conversation gatherings, village theatrical performances, storytelling and Karagöz shadow plays, as well as hands-on art experiences are also among the distinctive activities of the winter school.

The 9th Intangible Cultural Heritage Winter School aims to contribute to the sharing of academic and practical studies in the field, strengthening cooperation with local governments, and ensuring the sustainable safeguarding and transmission of cultural heritage.