IRCI’s Asia-Pacific Research Forum for ICH Safeguarding hosted its 9th online seminar for safeguarding ICH in the Asia-Pacific region on 18 September 2025, in conjunction with the ‘Preliminary Research on Intangible Cultural Heritage and Ecosystems’ project.

The seminar featured a lecture by Dr Christina Kreps (Professor, University of Denver, USA), entitled ‘“Spiritual Ecology” and the Protection of Environmental and Cultural Heritage’. Drawing upon her research into museum exhibition studies conducted in Indonesia, Dr Kreps emphasized the critical importance of indigenous curatorial practices that safeguard the spiritual dimensions where nature and culture intersect. She also highlighted the relevance of these practices within the context of the Anthropocene—a period of the time characterized by humanity’s profound impact on the Earth—through the lens of ‘spiritual ecology’, which integrates the supernatural, nature, and culture.

Dr IIDA Taku (Professor, National Museum of Ethnology, Japan), as commentator, expanded on her discussion. He explored how ‘spiritual ecology’ views nature as an active force that shapes culture through its impact on humans, noting that its dynamic interaction among nature, culture, and human perception needs more discussion.

A recording of this seminar will be made available on IRCI’s official YouTube channel soon.

The Asia-Pacific Research Forum for ICH Safeguarding will continue to offer online seminars. Updates on future seminars will be posted on the IRCI website, its official Facebook page, and the Forum’s Facebook Group. For inquiries, suggestions, or proposals regarding future seminars, please feel free to contact the IRCI secretariat.

The 9th online seminar on 18 September 2025