Living heritage

The Living Heritage research group supports this education and works closely with folk music professionals and amateurs.

Centria is the only university of applied sciences in Finland that trains folk music professionals. The Living Heritage research group supports this education and works closely with folk music professionals and amateurs. In Centria’s region, the strong tradition of fiddle playing and folk music is a recognised and unique living heritage. Kaustinen fiddle playing was added to the National Inventory of Living Heritage in 2016, and from there it was selected for UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage in 2021. The Living Heritage research group studies the visibility, transmission and teaching of intangible cultural heritage, and is active in networks around this theme.

In addition to Centria’s experts, the research group includes Dr Outi Valo (Chief Archivist,Finnish Folk Music Institute) and Dr Johanna Björkholm (Director, The Finland-Swedish Folk Music Institute).

Network cooperation focuses on cultural cooperation both between the Ostrobothnian regions and between the Nordic countries. Through international projects and networks, the research group is also part of the global context of intangible cultural heritage, and follows research and practice in the field. The aim of the research group is to keep intangible cultural heritage a living resource and to find new channels for it, also through applied technological innovations and dialogue with different fields.