This presentation examines creative approaches to indigenous intangible cultural heritage and how these can be used to surface values relating to Ocean governance. This remains a highly contested space where economic, political and legal priorities dominate and where the voices of local communities struggle to be heard. Drawing on examples from the UK GCRF funded One Ocean Hub project and its work with communities in the Pacific, Ghana and South Africa, we will explore how our methodology challenges traditional modes of investigating community relations where values and priorities are defined by academics and/or practitioners. Instead, artists and communities are supported in the co-design of creative content from which expressions of their values, priorities and relationships emerge. Fundamental to the prospectus of One Ocean Hub is sharing the emotional connections to the ocean of those most directly impacted by its health and governance. We have been working in collaboration with artists, knowledge holders, communities and academics on the frontline of the ocean governance and climate change nexus to implement a new funding and research model. The aim is to directly support projects led by 3rd Sector parties to promote creative autonomy and foster creative economies with a special focus on women and young people. Outputs from these projects include murals, tapestry, documentary film, song and video, illustrated books, wearable art and digital content all of which have created spaces in which intangible heritage intersects with ocean related challenges faced by these communities. Finally, the specific challenge of how this work is used to not only challenge an authorised heritage discourse, but to inform and shape policy at local, national and international levels will be explored.

• https://www.achs2022santiago.com/en/