Challenges in safeguarding variations in the norwegian traditional dance and music

The main aim of the Norwegian Centre for Traditional Music and Dance is to promote, safeguard, and transmit Norwegian traditional music and dance. The archive is a basis for research, education, transmission, and revitalization and we develop safeguarding methodology. The action-based knowledge in the archive is used to revive and safeguard variations lost today. When should an element be safeguarded? The living tradition develops with communities and time. The 2003 UNESCO Convention stresses that globalisation and social transformation threatens the ICH (Intangible Cultural Heritage). However, the Convention promotes a bottom up approach where the community decides what they want to safeguard. What do the experts do if the community does not value and want to safeguard their dying traditions?