To catch the uncatchable/to capture the intangible. Reflections on selected problems of safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Example of the Koniaków lace making skills

The 2003 UNESCO Convection for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has given impetus to intensive work on the disappearance of cultural specificity in many countries. As a result of taking safeguarding measures taken for expressions of intangible cultural heritage, the necessity to redefine existing practices in this matter has also shown up. The text refers to reflection on selected problems of documentation and popularisation of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), with particular regard to the example of the Koniaków lace making skills. This handicraft, despite the changing reality, has been an uninterrupted manifestation of the region's tradition for more than 100 years. Local lace makers adapt their forms to new emerging needs. The educational or commercial activity concentrated around lace makes these skills an important bonding element for the local community. The lively activity of dissemination and promotion of the Koniaków lace brought an entry to UNESCO's National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017.