Welcome to IOV World
IOV is a worldwide organization of individuals and institutions working to document, preserve and promote all forms of folk art, both tangible and intangible. The organization was founded in Belgium in 1979 and is registered under the laws of Austria, where the Office of the IOV Secretariat is located. IOV sponsors national and international folk art festivals as well as cultural exchanges of performing artists and visual art. Through its scientific and pedagogical symposia and workshops, IOV encourages scholarly research, documentation and publication on topics related to folk art and traditions. Recent conferences have explored aspects of storytelling, children’s games, legends, crafts, folk tales, dance, weaving and textiles, tool making, religious practices, costuming, architecture, social practices and seasonal celebrations. The UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, with its emphasis on research and documentation, provides the framework for IOV programs and projects.
Dear colleagues and friends of IOV,
