Living Human Treasure (ICH_1407); Museums (THE_5282); Romania (RO);

This article examines the National Living Human Treasures programme of the Astra National Museum Complex of Sibiu in Romania. The present Director of the Complex, was one of the experts who took part in a UNESCO Workshop in 1989 which developed the initial UNESCO recommendations upon the rescuing of the traditional and folk culture. This policy led in turn to the decision concerning "Living Human Treasures" adopted in 1993 by the UNESCO Executive Board, and then the Guidelines for the Establishment of National Living Human Treasures Systems. Since 1990-91, the Astra Musuem has adopted a large, well-defined and formally organized system for promoting public recognition of the exceptional intangible culture values of both traditional and contemporary Romanian culture and folk art. The Romanian Living Human Treasures programme developed and implemented by the Complex now comprises a series of major annual cultural events, together with measures aimed to support and promote the work of traditional craftspeople, performers and other inheritor and transmitters of the intangible heritage. All are interlinked to provide a programme for safeguarding and promoting the intangible cultural heritage, which has placed Romania among the leading countries of the world within the field. The policies and their implementation are also important in helping to oppose the universal globalization which is threatening national and local cultural identity around the world. This policy and programme is particularly important because of two further developments. In both of these developments, the Museum and its work in support of hundreds of Living Human Treasures, is seen to have a most important role.