Equipment and Infrastructure Needs

After taking the initial steps to start an ICH initiative, it is time to think about the equipment and infrastructure that the ICH team will need to operate out of an office and in the field. To start with, it is likely that only some of the office equipment will be needed. Depending on the types of projects and initiatives, the team may also need more specialized equipment for the field (for example, if they are conducting archaeological research or analyzing or storing archaeological materials).

The table below lists some recommended equipment and infrastructure for cultural heritage work.

For the Office

This is a list of basic office equipment to operate an ICH initiative day-to-day
• Desks
• Chairs
• Telephones
• Computers
• Printers
• Voice recorder
• Video recorder
• Computer software, such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• GIS software (computer programs) and hardware (computers, hand-held global positioning system (GPS) devices
• Tablets,
• Scanners
• A large printer for printing maps (if there are plans to create maps to manage cultural heritage.
For the Field

This equipment may be required if there is an archaeological component to the ICH initiative.  This includes whether the ICH team is conducting their own archaeological investigations or whether team members are working on externally managed archaeology-focused projects.
• Shovels
• Screens
• Augers
• Note-taking materials (Rite in the Rain notebooks) or digital recording devices (tablets)
• Vehicles (or access to vehicles)
• Personal protective equipment (for example, steel-toed boots, hard hat)
• A GPS receiver
• A camera
• Health and safety documentation
Analysis and Cataloging

Once cultural heritage materials and data have been collected, the ICH team may want to continue studying them in an office or lab environment.  It is also likely that the ICH team will need a proper storage repository for the ICH items.
• A lab
• Computers
• Microscopes
• A designated storage repository that meets specific regulations and requirements for artifacts

Reflection questions: Forming an ICH Management Team

Building an ICH management team will ensure that ICH initiatives are cared for in a good way. By creating opportunities for community members to join the team and lead this work, the community can build capacity and care for their cultural heritage. Here are some questions for ICH team members to consider as they embark on this work:

  • When building a team, how can you be inclusive and make use of the diverse gifts, skills and knowledge in your community?
  • What opportunities are there to mentor community members into a role on the ICH management team?
  • What are the benefits of working as a team?
  • What are your community or Nation’s values for working together?