PAPUA New Guinea is among two selected countries in Asia-Pacific region that for the first time received International Assistance funded under the Intangible Cultural Heritage Funds, expanding UNESCO’S support to new regions.

The International Assistance comes under the 2003 ICH Convention.

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund provides dedicated resources to States Parties for implementing various programs, projects, and activities aimed at safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. These initiatives include community-based inventorying, awareness-raising efforts, and specific activities like safeguarding living heritage in emergencies.

This preparatory assistance was granted for the nomination files of the `Toare Gulf Mask Festival` in Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea, aiming for their inclusion on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

The National Cultural Commission and the United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) through its PNG UNESCO National Office representative marked a significant milestone in officially signing the contract at NCC Head office in Port Moresby on Thursday, August 2024.

The National Cultural Commission thanked the UNESCO Head Office for their support in our efforts to safeguarding practices.

The event, attended by key NCC officers and Mrs. Doris Apuka, the PNG UNESCO Focal Point Representative on behalf of the PNG UNESCO.
The contract valued at $10,000 USD (approximately K40, 000) was signed by Mr. Steven Enomb Kilanda, Executive Director of National Cultural Commission.

The contract between NCC and UNESCO aims to:

• Identify and formally document the cultural elements of the Toare Mask Culture, which is at risk of extinction, as part of a nomination to UNESCO’s Urgent Safeguarding List.

• Establish a mini cultural center in the community to preserve cultural artifacts and provide training for the youth and others interested in learning about their heritage.

He extended his gratitude to Mr. Paul Simon, Executive Manager for Policy, Research and Regulatory Division and the research team for their pivotal role in drawing UNESCO’s attention on the recommendation based on findings from Toare village, Kerema, Gulf Province.

Mr. Kilanda also expressed his gratitude and word of thanks to UNESCO for accepting NCC’s application to preserve cultural elements through the Living Heritage Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) initiative.

He also appreciated the ongoing dialogue and support provided by Leila Maziz and the Safeguarding and monitoring team in Paris, France.

“This is a landmark moment for us, receiving international recognition and support from such reputable organizations or body like UNESCO is a great honor,” Remarked Mr. Kilanda.

“More importantly, it’s a testament to the trust we have build to safeguard the tangible and intangible cultural heritages of Papua New Guinea,” he said.

Mr. Kilanda emphasized the importance of transparency in managing donor funds, pledging that the allocated funds will be properly acquitted under the leadership of Mr. Paul Simon supported by Mr. Alex Puki and Mrs. Doris Apuka, two of the managers at its division.

“This partnership with UNESCO is a sign of progress. We look forward to more such projects across the country, preserving our diverse cultural heritage for future generations,” he added.
Looking ahead, Mr. Kilanda called for continued collaboration with UNESCO and other development partners to safeguard PNG’s cultural heritage.

As a sign of NCC’s commitment towards the development and building of a mini cultural center for Toare Masks, he pledged K10, 000 complementing NCC’s logistical support.
He proposed three additional research trips to East New Britain, Markham in Morobe, and Enga Provinces in 2024 to extend their preservation efforts.

The Gulf Provincial Government has already pledged support for the cultural center at Toare, setting a positive example for other provinces.