intangible cultural heritage in scotland

TRACS is part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Scotland Partnership, working alongside Museums Galleries Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and Creative Scotland, to collaborate on a national approach to ICH in communities.

In June 2024, at the same time as the UK ratified the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, TRACS was officially accredited as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) advisor to UNESCO on ICH.

You can find useful information and a Wee Guide to ICH below.

A Wee Guide

What is Intangible Cultural Heritage?

What is Intangible Cultural Heritage, you ask?

Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! We’ve put together a clear and comprehensive guide to all things ICH in Scotland.

Discover what “Living Heritage” really means, from local customs and traditional crafts to languages, celebrations, and community knowledge passed down through generations.

You might be surprised to find that your own everyday traditions are part of Scotland’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.

Dive into the guide and start exploring your own connections to Scotland’s living heritage!

A Wee Guide

Intangible Cultural Heritage Report

Mapping ICH in Scotland

You’ve moved beyond the ICH basics and now you’re looking for the most in-depth picture of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Scotland to date?

TRACS, in collaboration with Museums Galleries Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, and Creative Scotland, commissioned a landmark report exploring where Scotland currently stands in relation to Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).

The report was researched, compiled, and written by Steve Byrne, then Local Voices CIC, now CEO of TRACS. It offers a comprehensive overview of the ICH landscape, its key organisations and challenges, and puts forward a series of thoughtful recommendations for how we can better record, support, and preserve Scotland’s living heritage.

Read the Report

Department for Culture Media and Sports (DCMS) - Consultation Response

The UK Government's journey to Inventorying our Intangible Cultural Heritage

Where Are We on the Road to Creating an Inventory of the UK’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)?

In December 2023, the UK launched a public consultation to help shape the process of developing inventories of living heritage. This is a key step in implementing the UNESCO 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The consultation included 16 online roundtables, drawing in over 500 participants, and received more than 1,100 survey responses through the online portal and email.

Now, as of April 2025, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has published its response to the key issues raised during the consultation.

Click below to read the DCMS’ summary of public feedback and how it’s shaping the next steps for safeguarding our shared living heritage.

Read the Consultation Response

A celebration of the 2003 UNESCO Convention on ICH

Twenty Year Syne

Celebrating 20 years of the UNESCO 2003 Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage, David Francis, former Director of the Traditional Music Forum Scotland, wrote a song in celebration of the anniversary. He is performing it together with Steve Byrne, CEO of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland).

Play Video
Contact Us

Do you have a question on ICH? Get in touch!

Are you a practitioner, fellow organisation, or simply interested in ICH? Please get in touch by emailing: info@tracscotland.org