[Arirang Culture Connect: Bangalore, India]

The ICCN Secretariat, in partnership with Culture Masters and Alliance University, Bangalore, has officially announced the Interim ICCN Thematic Workshop and International Seminar, scheduled to take place from 19 to 21 February 2026 at Alliance University in Bangalore, India.

Held under the unifying theme “Education as the Safeguard: Cultivating and Transmitting Intangible Cultural Heritage,” the three-day international gathering will bring together ICCN members, Culture Masters delegates, leading scholars, policymakers, and internationally recognized Arirang Culture Masters Award holders for in-depth academic discourse and cross-cultural exchange.

The seminar will feature thematic workshops, scholarly presentations, and policy-oriented discussions addressing the role of education in preserving and transmitting Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in a rapidly globalizing world. Special emphasis will be placed on intergenerational transmission, community-based safeguarding practices, and international cooperation frameworks aligned with UNESCO’s cultural heritage principles.

Prof. (Dr.) Deepti Omchery Bhalla, an Arirang Master recently appointed by Culture Masters IAB.

A major highlight of the program will be the Arirang Masters Showcase, a prestigious cultural segment designed to celebrate living heritage through performance and dialogue. Notably, the showcase will include a joint Arirang Masters performance, collaboratively planned by Culture Masters from Korea, India, and several other participating countries. This multinational performance aims to present Arirang not merely as a Korean folk song, but as a shared cultural bridge, reinterpreted through diverse artistic expressions while preserving its core identity and historical significance.

Organizers emphasize that the joint performance symbolizes cultural solidarity, artistic dialogue, and mutual respect among nations committed to safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. By integrating traditional Korean Arirang with localized interpretations and performance aesthetics from partner countries, the showcase is expected to offer a powerful demonstration of transnational heritage transmission in practice.

The event also seeks to strengthen global networks among Culture Masters, promote intercultural education, and encourage sustainable models for cultural preservation through institutional and community-based collaboration.

The ICCN Secretariat extends a warm invitation to scholars, cultural practitioners, and heritage stakeholders worldwide to participate in this meaningful international gathering. Those wishing to attend or contribute to the program are kindly requested to contact Ms. Sigma G. Nath at ar.sigmagnath@gmail.com.

With its unique blend of academic rigor and living cultural expression, the ICCN–Culture Masters International Seminar and Arirang Masters Showcase is poised to become a landmark event in advancing global cooperation for the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

🟥 Arirang Master Award, Cultural Diplomacy, and the Future of Living Heritage