IOV World | International Organisation of Folk Art

The International Organisation of Folk Art is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, which was founded in Austria, in 1979, to preserve folk cultural heritage in all its forms. IOV is a worldwide network of individuals and institutions working to preserve and protect all forms of folk art.

They recognise the urgent need to protect the intangible cultural heritage for current and future generations. In this respect, they support the 2003 UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

IOV sponsors international and national folk dance, music and song festivals, culinary festivals and other related events. They also support exhibitions of costumes, masks, puppetry and all types of handicrafts.