History of ICIP
ICIP is an International Scientific Committee of ICOMOS (The International Council on Monuments and Sites). We began in 2008 with the development of the Charter for the Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites. Since then, we have developed practice notes for authenticity and inclusiveness and held a range of conferences and events.
Our Mission
The main task of this committee is to study the evolving technologies and techniques of public interpretation and presentation, evaluating their potential to enrich contemporary historical discourse and to heighten sensitivity to the universal values and particular modes of human expression embodied in cultural heritage sites.
The work of the committee explicitly focuses on the experiential dimension of visits to cultural heritage sites, particularly by means of various media and methods of public communication.
Who We Are:
ICIP is a group of cultural heritage professionals dedicated to interpreting cultural heritage and forging links with other national and international organisations that do so. We are committed to breaking down silos and making a difference to communities and stakeholders.
The Committee defines the objectives and principles of site interpretation and presentation. Its purpose is to enrich contemporary historical discourse and heighten sensitivities to Universal Values and the particular modes of human expression embedded in cultural heritage sites.
Some of ICIP’s work is devoted to developing best practices for cultural heritage interpretation, building on the 2008 Charter for the Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites. Interpretation is a rapidly changing field in both theory and practice. We support practices that are committed to inclusiveness, authenticity and rights-based approaches to cultural heritage and include ‘best practice’ in technologies and media that deliver interpretation. We are particularly interested in developing methodologies to link theory to practice.
Aims:
The ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on the Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites, ICIP, researches and promotes the interpretation of cultural heritage sites.
Since this Committee was formed in 2008, however, the distinction between interpretation and presentation has diminished. For this reason, ICIP mainly refers to ‘interpretation’ in its communications and focuses on the areas of authenticity, inclusiveness, the communication of multiple meanings at heritage sites, respect for cultural significance and the technologies and media used in heritage interpretation.
Interpretation here covers both site interpretation and activities that occur off-site, such as visitor orientation and the interpretation of intangible cultural heritage. The Committee recognises the importance of communities associated with heritage sites in interpretive activities and works to facilitate the involvement of diverse stakeholders in interpretive activities and programs at all stages of the interpretive process. Inevitably, however, conflicts about the meanings of heritage will arise. ICIP encourages debate about contested histories and is currently developing a methodology to assist both ICOMOS and UNESCO in this area. ICIP is also committed to furthering the aim of encouraging intercultural dialogue to further UNESCO’s aim of peace and reconciliation through heritage.
ICIP is also committed to working closely with the UNSDG program to assess how interpretation can further the cause of sustainability.