On 24 and 25 November in Antarctica Hall at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held the International Conference

"Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Balkans – Government and Non Government Sectors United in Safeguarding Europe ‘vital roots’." It was organized by Club UNESCO Leonardo Da Vinci-Sofia in cooperation with the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Southeastern Europe under the auspices of UNESCO, and under the patronage of the National Commission of the Republic of Bulgaria for UNESCO and the European Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (EFUCA). The Conference marked the 70th anniversary of UNESCO's foundation and the 60th anniversary of Bulgaria's accession to UNESCO.

At the official opening of the forum there were greetings from a number of representatives of Bulgarian and international institutions. The attendees enjoyed the performance of the Bistritsa Grannies folk group.

The objectives of the International Conference were collection of current data for the forms of intangible cultural heritage in Bulgaria and at the Balkans in the context of world intangible heritage; best practice exchange for safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, and networking with governmental and local structures, institutions and NGOs at the Balkans and in Europe, etc.

Photo courtesy of the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.