Penang choice location for 2 Unesco pilot projects
GEORGE TOWN: Penang has emerged as the choice location to carry out two pilot projects by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
Unesco Jakarta, Indonesia Cultural Unit chief Moe Chiba said the two pilot projects involved intangible heritage and methods for handling local industries located within the world heritage site in the state.
She said the George Town World Heritage Site emerged as the most preferred location in the Asia continent to implement the pilot project, particularly on the intangible heritage.
“Unesco will begin the intangible heritage project here with the overall implementation involving the local community at the world heritage site.
“This will not involve academic methods, and its exercise will begin with a forum scheduled to be held by the end of the month. This pilot project will also be held in Africa and Latin America,” she said on the sidelines of the International Conference on Managing Urban Cultural Heritage, here, yesterday.
Also present were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Heritage Department Commissioner Datuk Dr Zainah Ibrahim and George Town World Heritage Incorporated general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee.
For the second pilot project, Chiba said Unesco would review the relationship between all parties involved to ensure the quality and the output by the local industries in the heritage site could be further improved.
“This involves stakeholders, community information centres and museums. This is because such bodies and organisations are seen as not establishing effective cooperation in many parts of the country.
“This has resulted in the weakened coordination between them in numerous aspects at the world heritage site. Therefore, this pilot project will look at the best methods to be used to overcome this.
“Through the pilot project, we will draft action plans on methods to be implemented to ensure the well-being of the community in the world heritage site through the local industries,” she added.