Examples of intangible cultural heritage are stories, memories, folk music, dances, handicrafts and languages that are passed down from one generation to the next.

At their general conference in 2003, UNESCO adopted a Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which Sweden is now planning to adopt.

The convention

According to the text of the convention, an intangible cultural heritage is a cultural heritage that is passed down from one generation to the next. Threatened cultural heritages are to be prioritised.
The purposes of the convention cover areas like preservation, documentation, knowledge transfer, information, education, research, mediation and international cooperation. It also stipulates that an inventory of intangible cultural heritage shall be drawn up. At present over a hundred countries have ratified the convention. Sweden has yet to adopt the convention.

Work group

Since February 2009, a work group assigned by the government that includes a number of state agencies is investigating how the convention can be ratified and implemented in Sweden.
The work group consists of Institutet för språk och folkminnen (The Institute for languages and folklore), the Swedish Arts Council, the Swedish National Heritage Board, the National Swedish Handicraft Council and the Nordiska Museet Foundation.
The inquiry will take place in consultation with other concerned parties. This will also include a review of the division of responsibilities regarding intangible cultural heritage issues. The institute for languages and folklore will act as the convener and coordinate the accounts, which will be presented to the Government Offices of Sweden by 1 December 2009 at the latest.