Aqaba: The Jordanian National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and UNESCO's Amman Office, organized a specialized workshop in Aqaba on Sunday, under the theme: "Intangible Cultural Heritage and Cultural Industries."
According to Jordan News Agency, the two-day event aims to build the capacity of intangible cultural heritage professionals, raise awareness of its importance as a cornerstone of Jordan's collective identity, and outline mechanisms for identifying and transmitting heritage elements to younger generations.
During the workshop, the Commission's Secretary-General, Sultan Khleif, emphasized its commitment to preserving, documenting, and revitalizing Jordan's cultural heritage through national programs implemented in partnership with government and community institutions. Khleif highlighted that Aqaba represents a living example of Jordan's cultural richness, strengthened by its traditional arts and heritage that contribute to national identity and help transmit cultural knowledge to future generations.
Khleif also noted the Commission's focus on implementing the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which aids in documenting popular traditions and highlighting the cultural diversity across Jordanian governorates.
UNESCO's Amman Office Director, Noha Bawazir, praised the partnership between UNESCO and the Commission in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. She commended Jordan's engagement with local communities in preserving heritage elements and affirmed UNESCO's ongoing support for national initiatives that showcase Jordan's cultural projects globally.
Representative of the Ministry of Culture, Amani Abu Hammour, stated that preserving intangible cultural heritage is a core pillar of Jordan's National Cultural Strategy. The strategy aims to protect and promote the country's folk heritage and ensure its transmission as an integral part of national identity. She mentioned that the ministry collaborates with the Commission and UNESCO's Amman Office in documenting heritage elements and organizing training workshops on various cultural traditions.
The workshop saw attendance from Director of Media at the Ministry of Education, Mahmoud Hyassat, and Director of Education in Aqaba, Abdulwahab Hajjaj.