Listen before creating
Work with tradition bearers to understand the history and meaning of a practice. Ask what may be recorded, shared or adapted and what should remain private.
CREATIVITY AS A PATHWAY TO
Keep living traditions visible, respected and in community hands.
Our VisionTHE OPPORTUNITY
Heritage includes stories, language, performance and making traditions—not only objects. Creative work can help communities document and pass on knowledge without stripping it of context.
Work with tradition bearers to understand the history and meaning of a practice. Ask what may be recorded, shared or adapted and what should remain private.
Record names, place, language and permissions alongside photographs, interviews and performances. Return accessible copies to the people who contributed.
Collaborate with local makers on contemporary interpretations. Agree credit, payment and approval before turning a traditional motif or story into a public product.
CREATIVE MERCHANDISE
Proposed merchandise concepts informed by the guidance below. These are not stocked products or confirmed offers; scenes are illustrative. Maker permission, cultural context and production feasibility must be checked before manufacture.
Merchandise concept
Everyday memories from a specifically identified community, with named contributors and agreed editorial control.
Merchandise concept
Illustrations and pronunciation guidance in one identified local language, verified by its speakers.
Merchandise concept
Commissioned illustrations of approved weaving, carving or textile processes, crediting makers and excluding restricted designs.
CONNECTED PROGRAMMES
RESEARCH & FURTHER READING
Communities have the primary role in safeguarding their heritage. UNESCO calls for transparent collaboration and free, prior, sustained and informed consent, and says communities should benefit from the moral and material interests arising from heritage use.
Research reviewed 19 October 2026. External resources do not imply endorsement, partnership, funding eligibility or current product availability.
KEEP EXPLORING