Mallorca's festivals and crafts need protection, not PR

On the island of Mallorca, festivals, craft skills and traditional trades need more than a place in a catalogue: a heritage group is calling for stronger protection and warning against using them for political publicity. The Association for the Revitalisation of Old Town Centres (ARCA) made the appeal in a statement on 16 October, ahead of Saturday’s International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

ARCA says Mallorca’s intangible cultural heritage also includes the shared traditions and ideas that shape islanders’ identity. It welcomes work to record and research that heritage, but says declarations and catalogues alone will not safeguard it.

Legal protections for intangible cultural assets have recently begun to move forward. ARCA calls them a first step, saying effective measures and adequate resources must follow to protect Mallorca’s cultural identity.

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com