Mapping connectionswithheatmaps

Editor's Notes

• #2: 27/08/12
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• #22: 27/08/12
• #23: 27/08/12 The network has a relatively centralized structure and the centre is occupied by national (24,5% of the nodes) and international (9%) websites. The majority of the actors, however, operate on a local dimension: regional bodies, urban organizations and even actors based in little villages (66,5%). We can identify, for example, some geographic clusters such as Sardinia’s websites (mostly related to The Canto a tenore and occupying the top of the graph), Sicilia’s websites (mostly related to Opera dei Pupi at the right of the image) and Lombardy’ websites (not related to a specific item, at the bottom right of the image). It is also possible to notice several thematic clusters: websites related to lace (a dense and separated cluster in the top right corner of the image) or to traditional dances ( pizzica and tarantella at the left of the image) or to the preparation of a candidature (such as seven-year ritual of penance in honour of the Assumption, a small cluster at the middle right of the image).
• #24: 27/08/12 Institutional actors (38% of the nodes) clearly dominate the network for their position and visibility. However several clusters of associative actors (43%) can be identified. The websites of the Ministry of Culture and of the UNESCO are by far the most visible nodes in the graph (the ones receiving the most of hyperlinks). The very central position of www.unesco.org (linked by national agencies, local governments, but also by independent projects of safeguard) is particularly significant. Web mapping allows representing effectively the unstable and fragmented scenario of the Italian ICH safeguard system, where the initial latency of national bodies favoured the emergence of various peripheral projects.
• #25: 27/08/12 What emerges at a first glance is the gap between the quantity of local nodes (the green shapes on the heatmap) and the weight (measured as the number of incoming and outgoing links) of national actors. Although national nodes are only 30% (against 65% of local), they are clearly the most connected, not only as authorities but also as hub. In particular, the Ministry of Culture, with its institutional website (www.culture.gouv.fr) and its informational portal (www.culture.fr), is the undisputed centre of the network and is surrounded by several national branches with different territorial or thematic competency. The international website of Unesco (www.unesco.org), while remaining one of the authorities of the graph, does not seem to play a key role as in the Italian case: the relation between local and international actors is generally mediated by national institutions. Both in the graph per dimension and per type, actors are positioned in relation with the centre rather than in relation to each other. The result is a structure where local associations and institutions are mainly related to the national level.
• #26: 27/08/12 Another interesting peculiarity of France is the importance assumed by the institutions more directly related to the Ministry, such as museums, libraries and archives (i.e. bnf.fr, archivesnationales.culture.gouv.fr, archivesdefrance.culture.gouv.fr, quaibranly.fr etc.). The presence and strength of this type of actor may reveal an approach to intangible heritage, more oriented to conservation, inventorying and communication than to "capacity-building" in the communities, as recommended by Unesco. Also the research and education institutions seem to be fairly influential in the French map (especially CRNS). Not only several research laboratories are involved in the safeguard and inventory activities, but also training schools (especially related handcraft) and education institutes (especially related to traditional music) are involved in the enhancement of the practices of heritage transmission.
• #27: 27/08/12 What emerges very clearly is the marginal role of international actors (6%). Not only the international nodes are dispersed in the graph, but even the international website of Unesco is marginal. Conversely, the distribution of local nodes (62%) and national nodes (32%) is more balanced than in other countries. While it is possible to identify a core group of national institutions, several national actors are also included in local groups and vice versa, generating a decentralized structure. As a result, the blue area (national) and the green area (local) show several overlapping areas. This phenomenon may derive from the cantons organization of Switzerland (see the overlapping area around the points be.ch of the canton of Bern, ar.ch of Appenzell Outer Rhodes ai.ch of Appenzell Inner Rhodes), but it is also evidence of a democratic network open to local actors.
• #28: 27/08/12 Even if, similarly to other countries, the Swiss network presents a central group of institutions (32%), associations (37,5%) and notably of individuals (30,5%, against the 19% in the Italian network and the 20% of the French network) are also very active. As revealed by the heatmap representation, the network shows a more balanced presence of various types (the three colours cover areas with similar size). Second, if nodes belonging to the same category tend to link each other, they also are connected with nodes of other categories. As a result, the coloured areas are clearly overlapping in the heatmap. Third, authorities are not only institutions (www.admin.ch, www.unesco.ch), but also associations (www.vsvonline.ch the Swiss association of folk music, www.hausdesvolksmusik.ch the House of Folk Music) and individuals (the blog folkmusic.ch). In particular, we can notice the weight of the website SUISA, the Cooperative Society of Music Authors and Publishers (www.suisa.ch). It is not only one of the most influential and central nodes of the network, but it is also one of the crossing points between local and national groups and between institutions and associations.