The Folk Music Festival “Mikołajki Folkowe” and threats to intangible heritage under the 2003 UNESCO Convention

Abstract

This article attempts to evaluate the Folk Music Festival “Mikołajki Folkowe” (Folk Saint Nicho­las Day) organised in Lublin in the context of threats to intangible cultural heritage. The first part gives a general characteristic of folk music as creativity inspired by musical folklore, and presents the above festival. The main part of the article is devoted to considerations whether the “Mikołajki Folkowe” festival generates threats to intangible cultural heritage and, on the other hand, whether and how the festival can counteract them. In the final part of the article, the author indicates that the discussed cyclical musical event is a part of the strategy for the protection of intangible cultural heritage according to the provisions of the UNESCO Convention of 2003 adopted by Poland.