New elements nominated for inscription on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage

Ministry of Education and Culture
Publication date 25.3.2020 11.57
Press release
Audience in the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival.
Photo: Lauri Oino

The nomination entitled “Kaustinen folk fiddling tradition and related practices and expressions” has been prepared by the Finnish Heritage Agency in cooperation with the Finnish Folk Music Institute and communities practicing the tradition. Finland’s nomination was signed by Minister of Science and Culture Hanna Kosonen.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is nominating the Kaustinen folk fiddling tradition on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Additionally, Finland participates in the first joint Nordic nomination concerning the Nordic clinker-built boat tradition. The decision on whether the nominations are accepted will be received in December 2021.

For the purposes of the nomination, the Kaustinen folk fiddling tradition has been identified and defined according to the criteria set out in the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Folk fiddling is a strong and dynamic local tradition practised in the municipality of Kaustinen.

Wooden clinker boats have been built around the Baltic Sea for hundreds of years. Norway is coordinating the Nordic nomination for the inscription of wooden clinker-built boat tradition on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. All the Nordic countries support the nomination. A total of 19 Finnish communities operating in the field support the submission of the nomination.

In 2017, these two elements along with 50 other traditions were selected for the National Inventory of Living Heritage maintained by the Finnish Heritage Agency. Once inscribed on this list, an element can be nominated for inscription on the UNESCO lists.

Inquiries: Mirva Mattila, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture, mirva.mattila(at)minedu.fi, tel. +358 2953 30269

UNESCO Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage

  • UNESCO maintains Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
  • Finland signed the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage seven years ago. The Convention promotes the protection of living cultural heritage and makes the diverse cultural traditions of people, communities or groups visible.
  • The Finnish Heritage Agency is responsible for the implementation of the Convention in Finland.
  • UNESCO’S lists currently have more than 500 elements from 127 countries.
  • The decision on whether Finland’s first nomination concerning Finnish sauna bathing is accepted will be received in December 2020.

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Culture Hanna Kosonen