Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is pleased to inform you that the nominations for the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia Pacific Regional Register (MOWCAP Register) for the 2024 cycle are now being accepted.
Introduction to UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme:
The UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme was established in 1992. The vision of the Memory of the World Programme is that the world’s documentary heritage belongs to all, should be fully preserved, and protected for all, and, with due recognition of cultural mores and practicalities, should be permanently accessible to all without hindrance. It consists of three registers: the International Register, the Regional Register, and the National Register. Furthermore, every country can nominate only two submissions for the International Register and three submissions for the Regional Register. However, there is no restriction on joint nominations for shared heritage with other countries. There is also no restriction on the number of submissions to the National Register.
Why nominate an item or collection for the Memory of the World Regional Register?
- Strategic opportunities arising from the right to use the UNESCO Memory of the World logo.
- Prestige conferred on organizations and collections as a result of UNESCO’s recognition.
Opportunities for increased public awareness. - Strengthening arguments for sponsorship, grants, and funding for preservation.
- Being part of the regional effort to enhance awareness and support for the preservation of
documentary heritage.
Call for Nominations
The Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) invites new nominations for its UNESCO Memory of the World Asia Pacific Regional Register (MOWCAP Register) for the 2024 cycle. This register lists documentary heritage items of historical significance in the Asia Pacific Region. Any person or organization, with the prior written consent of the owners or custodians, may submit nominations through the Nodal Centre, i.e., Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA. As each country can submit only three (3) nominations to the Asia- Pacific Regional Register, all the received nominations will be scrutinized and evaluated through a set process before forwarding them through the Ministry of Culture and the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO.
The International organizations meeting the criteria set out in the General Guidelines of the Memory of the World Programme may also submit joint nominations for the Regional Register. Two or more nominators in different member states may submit joint nominations where collections or groupings are divided among owners/custodians. There is no limit on the number of such nominations nor on the number of partners involved. Nominators from outside Asia and the Pacific may join as nominator(s) with at least one nominator in Asia and the Pacific.
What to nominate?
Please refer the General Guidelines of the Memory of the World Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) to understand the nomination criteria. The criteria for the MOWCAP Register are identical to those for the International Register, except that significance is to be established on a regional (Asia Pacific) scope rather than worldwide significance. Regional (Asia Pacific) significance is the primary criterion. Documentary heritage can include materials from a variety of fields and forms, including visual, audio, paper and digital, among others.
The nominated items of documentary heritage must also be finite and precisely defined; broad, general or open-ended nominations will not be accepted. The Register does not include all the records in public and private archives, no matter how important those bodies or individuals may be. Repositories should nominate for inclusion on the Register only those documents that fulfil the defined criteria, including that of regional significance. Once added to the MOWCAP Regional Register, the document group cannot be changed or redefined over time. In the case of documentary heritage which exists in several locations, or has several owners or custodians, full details of each component, owner or custodian are to be provided
How to Nominate:
Link to the detailed guidelines: Click Here
Link to Nomination Form: Apply Here
For more information: Visit Here
Role of IGNCA:
As you might be aware, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), an autonomous trust under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is a premier research institute of the country, promoting Indian art and culture through research projects and various academic programs, such as seminars, workshops, exhibitions, etc., in all parts of the country.
IGNCA has also, in collaboration with UNESCO, undertaken many initiatives in the field of art and culture. In recognition of its contribution, the IGNCA was designated by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, as the Nodal Centre for the implementation of the UNESCO Memory of World (MoW) Programme in India in August 2014.
IGNCA is confident that your library, archives, museum, or repository holds documentary heritage collections/materials of historical significance, particularly to the Asia-Pacific Region that can be nominated for the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia Pacific Regional Register (MOWCAP Register). Please note that all individuals or organizations must submit their nominations ONLY THROUGH THE NODAL CENTRE, i.e., IGNCA.
IGNCA would be grateful if you could kindly share the material for nomination with the undersigned through email and in hard copy at the below-mentioned address by 15th August, 2023, so that it can be compiled, scrutinized, and evaluated along with the material/collections from other departments and institutions well before the deadline given by UNESCO MOWCAP, i.e., 15th September, 2023.
Contact
Prof. (Dr.) Ramesh C. Gaur
Head, Kala Nidhi Division
Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts
Janpath Building (Near Western Court), Janpath
New Delhi-110001.
Email: gaur@ignca.nic.in & rcgaur66@gmail.com Mobile: 98100 66244