In December 2015, UNESCO included the Fire Festivals of the Summer Solstice in the Pyrenees on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; a fact that facilitated the implementation of safeguarding measures for this type of heritage by local institutions. Among all these measures, it’s noted the establishment of the Chair of Education and Intangible Heritage of the Pyrenees (Càtedra d’Educació i Patrimoni Immatarial dels Pirineus), within the Faculty of Education, Psychology, and Social Work at the University of Lleida.
Thus, on June 29 of 2016, the Governing Council of the University of Lleida approved its creation, considering it an ideal unit for the maintenance and sustainable management of the Pyrenean heritage from an academic perspective. Since then, the Chair has been supported by the Department of Culture of the Generalitat of Catalonia, the Institute for the Development and Promotion of the High Pyrenees and Aran, and the Lleida Provincial Council.
Contribute to the safeguarding of the cultural and natural heritage of the Pyrenees, with special emphasis on intangible heritage and advocating for education as an indispensable tool for heritage safeguarding.
The actions of the Chair focus on achieving the three stated objectives. At the same time, they aim to promote critical and scientific thinking, be a guarantor for the construction of personal and social identity, and contribute to local development and the promotion of programs that highlight heritage, collaborating with local institutions, similar organizations, and other universities.
Department of Culture of the Government of Catalonia
Department of Territory of the Government of Catalonia
University of Lleida
- Mr. Jordi Abella
Director of the Ecomuseum of the Valls d’Àneu - Mr. Manolo Campos
Promoter of the St. Lliser Path - Mr. Arcadi Castilló
Geographer specializing in the Pyrenees - Mr. Joan-Pau Ferré
Director of the Eth Ostau Comenges Study Centre - Dr. Núria García Quera
Linguist specializing in Pyrenean toponymy - Dr. Mireia Guil
Anthropologist specializing in the Pyrenean fire festivals (falles) - Dr. Jaume Llacuna
Expert in communication and Cathar symbolism - Mr. Jèp de Montoya
President of the Aranese Studies Institute
- Mr. Xavier Pedrals
Historian specializing in the Fia-faia festival - Mr. Guillermo Palomero
President of the Brown Bear Foundation - Mr. Àngel Portet
Honorary President of the International Raftmen’s Association - Mr. Albert Roig
Journalist specializing in the Andorran fire festivals (falles) - Dr. Xavier Roigé
Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Barcelona - Dr. Cristina Valls
Lecturer in Education at Rovira i Virgili University - Dr. Cristina Yáñez
Associate Professor of Education at the University of Andorra