Toare village, over the weekend, celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Toare Mask Festival, an event deeply rooted in the cultural identity of the Gulf people.
Held on July 12–13, this year’s celebration was especially significant with the official opening of the new Toare Cultural Centre and the announcement of the Toare Mask tradition’s nomination for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) List.
Established in 2005, the Toare Mask Festival ran annually until 2014 before going on hiatus.
In 2022, the National Cultural Commission (NCC), the Gulf Provincial Government, and TotalEnergies revived the festival, which has since picked up momentum, drawing growing attention from within the country and overseas.
Following its revival, concerns about the authenticity and preservation of traditional masks led NCC to commission in-depth research on mask types and meanings; research that underpins the nomination now submitted to UNESCO.
If successful, the Toare Mask tradition would become the first cultural practice from Papua New Guinea and the Pacific region to be included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
The Toare Cultural Centre was constructed as a dedicated space for preserving and showcasing traditional masks and knowledge to support the nomination.
The centre received initial funding of USD 10,000 (PGK 41,169.20) from UNESCO, followed by PGK 20,000 from NCC and PGK 80,000 from the Gulf Provincial Government to expand the facility.
The two-day event began on Saturday, 12th July, with a festival launch attended by dignitaries including Gulf Provincial Administrator Mr. Clement Tare, TotalEnergies Managing Director Mr. Arnaud Berthet, and H.E. Jacques Fradin, European Union Ambassador to PNG.
The following day, Sunday, 13th July, saw the official opening of the Cultural Centre, officiated by Finance Minister and Member for Kerema Open, Thomas Opa, along with representatives from NCC and UNESCO.
Minister Opa encouraged communities to take pride in the festival, calling it not only a vital tool for cultural preservation and community development but an important part of their identity and heritage.
He reminded communities that the festival is a way of attracting the government and other stakeholders to bring in services to the community.
NCC Research Manager Mr. Alex Puki hailed the project as a historic partnership.
“This is the first time the National Cultural Commission has worked with UNESCO to build a cultural centre in a province. It’s a milestone not just for us, but for grassroots communities.”
The Toare Cultural Centre is expected to play a key role in educating young people and preserving mask traditions that were previously stored in family homes at risk of damage or loss.
Mr. Alex Pukie, Research Manager at NCC, said that this was the first time NCC had partnered with an international organization to build a cultural centre.
It is a historic milestone, not just for NCC but for the communities that benefit.