IOV Founder Alexander Veigl demonstrated his wisdom and foresight when he successfully applied to UNESCO for recognition as an international non-governmental organization more than 15 years ago.  On July 1st, IOV's application to UNESCO for an “upgraded” relationship will be filed and sometime next year we will hear if we are successful.

The application is with the Intangible Cultural Heritage Section at UNESCO and would mean that qualified IOV experts and scholars might be called upon to provide advisory services to the Director General of UNESCO. Each interested expert submitted a form with their CV about a month ago.  The forms and CVs, will accompany the IOV application.

IOV has many of the world's leading experts in folk art and folk culture among its members.  IOV President Carmen Padilla is one example.  Carmen has been the Philippine representative to the UNESCO General Conference, she heads the Philippine cultural delegation to UNESCO and she is Chair of UNESCO's Memories of the World program for Southeast Asia.