La situación del patrimonio cultural inmaterial en España y el Plan Nacional como instrumento de salvaguarda

First of all, a preamble about how the concept of Heritage has evolved is included. A list with the main national and international documents is shown, reflecting the evolution and expansion of Heritage concept, until the figure of Intangible Cultural Heritage was created. In this regard, a comparative between Intangible Cultural Heritage and Ethnological Heritage is made. After that, the National Plan as well as the reasons that led to its writing are explained. The Intangible Cultural Heritage characteristics are also detailed and thoroughly analysed. The spheres within Intangible Cultural Heritage is expressed in Spain are also listed, establishing the following classification: traditional knowledge regarding production activities, processes and techniques; beliefs, festive rituals and other ceremonial practices; oral tradition and linguistic peculiarities; representations, stagings, traditional games and sports, expressions of music and sound; forms of eating; forms of collective sociability and organizations. The risks for ICH are then identified, emphasizing the menace posed by the fact that this kind of Heritage might become a media phenomenon due to the large audiences calling for and valuing it. Also, the dangers for the continuity of the ICH when the bearer communities don’t take part in the decision-making process are explained. Finally, the key aims, the criteria of action, as well as the methodology of the National Plan to Safeguard Intangible Cultural Heritage are developed. The programmes and lines of action included in the document are explained too: research and documentation programme; ICH tangible medium conservation programme; and ICH training, communication, promotion and dissemination programme.