Promoting and Developing ICH Contents in Cambodia in relation to the ichLinks 

1.    Applicant

A. Country: Cambodia

B. Name of organization: Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts

C. Name of contact person: SIYONN Sophearith

D. Address: 277, Preah Norodom Blvd., Khan Chamkar Mon, Phnom Penh

E. Telephone number: (+855) 17 674 905

F. Email address: sopheariths@yahoo.com

2.     The proposal is proposing some key activities as below:

-Purchasing necessary equipment and system

The most important activities to be carried out is to set up Database management system and purchasing any necessary equipment to support the system. By setting up the hardware and software infrastructure, the information that we currently have can be migrated into a more secure place. This will not only allow a more secure data keeping environment but also let staffs and other authorized individuals access these data more timely and accurately. The current data stored in portable hard drives must be migrated to prevent any unforeseen data loss. 

-Employing staffs for the ichLinks project

3 staffs from outside of the ministrywill be hired.

-Translation of ICH data (local language to English)

Translating data from Khmer to English and vice versa is one of the essential activities of this proposal. The process of making those inventories data accessible to the public can encourage creativity and self-respect in the communities and individuals where expressions and practices of intangible cultural heritage originate. Moreover, the translated data will raise the public awareness about ICH and ensure its viability among today’s generations and its continued transmission to tomorrow’s.

-Developing ICH digital contents

In order to safeguard Intangible Cultural Heritage in today context, it is necessary to involve public engagement by using digital technology/content to create platform for larger participation to raise awareness about ICH. There are activities such as: 1)make invenory list available online via the website 2) Produce documentary films about ICH which are in danger the most based on the information in the ICH inventory list.

-Organizing local ICH events

With a better IT infrastructure, data and information will be accessible easier. This allows our organization to develop various modes of transmission of the elements through digital methods such as social media, websites, digital books and publication and many more streams. Currently, a website showcasing various ICH elements is being developed, however the input of the website is slowed down due to the fact and different information are not easily accessible or is in Khmer language. 

Different workshops hosted both physically and virtually will allow ICH practitioners from different part of the countries come together and share information. Workshop such as capacity building set up in places besides the city allow smaller yet more profound groups of communities to come together and learn more in different aspects of ICH such as promotion and protection of the elements et cetera. It is also a chance for the ministry to develop closer ties to important stakeholders and understand more on the practices and tradition of the ICH elements that exists in Cambodia.