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 has over 3000 members in more than 150 countries.

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 cultural 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 point of reference for many IOV programs and projects.

All IOV members participate in the General Assembly, which meets every fourth year. The General Assembly approves revisions to bylaws, elects officers and approves budgets and financial expenditures. The Executive Board is comprised of the officers, commission chairs and regional leaders and is responsible for the overall success of IOV’s programs and projects.  The Presidential Council, which consists of the officers and Secretary-General, oversees the Secretariat, engages in long, medium and short range planning, implements IOV policy and develops membership programs and benefits.  The IOV Secretariat is staffed by the Secretary General, who is responsible for the day to day operations of IOV.

OUR MISSION is to foster an understanding of folk art as a powerful, unifying force that transcends economic, social and religious barriers to unite people and promote world peace.

IOV strives to increase the awareness and appreciation of all forms of folk art and folk culture.  IOV members recognize that the world’s cultural wealth is found in the diversity of its people and is expressed in folk traditions. IOV seeks to create opportunities for the keepers of society’s traditions to pass knowledge and skills on to younger generations.  We recognize folk art will benefit future generations only to the degree in which it survives as a daily, living tradition.  IOV is dedicated to researching, documenting, transmitting and presenting all forms of ethnic and indigenous folk art and folk culture, both tangible and intangible, as a means to accomplish our goals.

Goals

•    To develop programs and projects that encompass all forms of folk and traditional arts, including, but not limited to dance, music, rituals, narratives, food ways, traditional medicine and healing, vernacular architecture, traditional craftsmanship, and traditional practices that are the basis of human civilization;
•    To increase awareness of the world’s rich and diverse cultures through classes, seminars, symposia, exhibits, folk art markets, culinary events, demonstrations and by use of the Internet;
•    To build a strong network of people and resources in support of those who are inspired by folk and traditional arts and who wish to share with their talents and skills with others;
•    To identify and partner with organizations sharing common objectives and programs in order to conserve resources and avoid duplication;
•    To present folk art in live performances, exhibitions, workshops and at other public events;
•    To publish newsletters, research papers, articles and educational materials on all aspects of folk art and folk culture;
•    To produce guides for festival organizers and performing groups to promote authenticity and artistic excellence in presentation;
•    To print a calendar of folk festivals and events for the public.
•    To provide opportunities for elders to transmit traditional knowledge and skills to younger generations;
•    To create a supportive and respectful environment for the presentation of folk art, and
•    To encourage intercultural dialogue and promote activities which foster cooperation among culturally diverse communities.

Folk art, including language, visual arts, music and dance accompany individual lives from birth to death. The history and destiny of a people is expressed through folk art and tradition. Folk art exemplifies human creativity, strengthens community ties and bridges generations.

Our Mission and Goals are based on a broad interpretation and understanding of “folk culture,” as one where commonly shared ideas, perceptions, norms, and values, skills, practices and behavioral models are passed from generation to generation by the mechanisms of tradition. The unique character of certain families, communities and societies attests to the power of tradition and folk art. 

The collective skills and knowledge of a group, or intangible cultural heritage, give direction and meaning to the lives of ordinary people, foster a sense of self-worth and wholeness among individuals within the community, and provide individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the community.