On August 1st, 2012, the Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre (SAC) and the International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (IRCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on research and capacity-building of experts related to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage.

Ms. Misako Ohnuki, the Deputy Director-General of IRCI, traveled from Osaka, Japan, to visit the SAC and to participate in the signing ceremony. Though IRCI was established only 10 months ago, the Centre has already developed a comprehensive workplan that focuses on promoting the 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and enhancing implementation activities through research, regional networking, and the organization of workshops and seminars.During the discussion that proceeded the signing of the MOU, the SAC and the IRCI were pleased to realize that the missions of both organizations emphasize the active participation of local communities in intangible cultural heritage projects.

Together, the SAC and the IRCI plan to transform discussions into practical contributions and to create valuable learning opportunities for heritage experts in the Asia-Pacific region. They hope to unite in coordinating SAC's 2013 Intangible Cultural Heritage Field School, as well as in undertaking comparative research on intangible cultural heritage management and local museums in Thailand and Japan. A shared interest in visual anthropology and ethnographic filmmaking techniques may also lead to a partnership for IRCI's filmmaking training workshop in February 2013.

The MOU between SAC and IRCI will enable these organizations to share resources and jointly confront the challenges of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, so that they can more effectively inspire research that influences policy and contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of heritage preservation.