Our Mission
is to preserve, protect and promote all forms of folk art and folk culture as elements of the intangible cultural heritage through our network of individual and institutional members.

Our Credentials
In 1998, IOV entered into Operational Relations with UNESCO. In recent years, new partnerships have been formed and older ones strengthened:

• 2010: UNESCO accredits IOV as a Consultant to the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
• 2010: UNESCO identifies 40 IOV experts in the ICH
• 2011: UNESCO reclassifies IOV to Formal Consultative Relations
• 2012: IOV enters Special Consultative Relations with The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Our Programs
IOV Conferences
IOV sponsors international and national conferences, workshops, seminars and other events designed to inform IOV members and the public about its work to Safeguard the Intangible Cultural Heritage. In a typical year, IOV conferences are organized in 8 to 10 regions of the world. In addition, national sections meet once a year to elect officers.

IOV Festivals and Exhibitions
IOV sponsors international and national folk dance, music and song festivals, culinary festivals and other festive events. IOV also supports exhibitions of costumes, masks, puppetry, and all types of handicrafts.

IOV Youth
IOV has established programs to prepare young people for positions of leadership in IOV. World youth congresses have been held in Utah, USA (2008); Nanjing, China (2010); and, Tjorn and Stockholm, Sweden (2012).

read more