International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art ()

International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art

Conseil international des organisations de festivals de folklore et d'arts traditionnels (CIOFF)
Internationale Rat für Organisationen von Folklorefestivals und Volkskunst
Consejo Internacional de Organización de Festivales de Folklore y Arte Tradicional

Contact Details

Main address: SG: Philippe Beaussant, Festival de Confolens, 3 place Emile Roux, F-16500, Confolens, France, Tel: (33 5) 45 29 07 07, Fax: (33 5) 45 85 37 17, E-mail: info (at) cioff.org

CIOFF Office at UNESCO: 1 rue Miollis, F-75732 CEDEX 15, Paris, France, Tel: (33 1) 45 68 44 44, Fax: (33 1) 43 06 87 98

CIOFF International Centre, Dissemination and Documentation: Guy Landry, Folklore Canada Intl, CP 9, Station Delorimier, H2H 2N6 QC, Montréal QC, Canada, Tel: (1 514) 524 8552, Fax: (1 514) 524 0269, E-mail: patrimoine (at) qc.aira.com

URL: http://www.cioff.org/

Aims

Promote international understanding in the field of folk art and folk culture, thus leading to the maintenance of peace and strengthening of friendship between countries; contribute to: respect and appreciation for national cultures and cultural traditions; conservation, promotion and cultivation of folklore and artistic folk activity, customs and traditions; joy and participation in cultivating cultural heritage; improving methods of increasing artistic and organizational quality of folk events; improving international exchange of experience in the field.

Official Relations

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)^* (Consultative Status).

Activities

Organizes about 250 International Folklore Festivals annually, plus international exchanges between folklore groups, conferences, symposia and exhibitions.

Publications

Entre Nous - newsletter (2 a year). International Monograph of Folk Dance (1986). Annual Report. Index of folklore periodicals; brochures; bulletins; conference papers - all in English, French, German, Russian, Spanish.

Members

Full - national sections (71); Associate (4); Corresponding. Full members in 74 countries and territories:

• Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland.

• Argentina, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico^*, Uruguay, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).

• China, Hong Kong/China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan/China, Thailand, Uzbekistan.

• New Zealand.

• Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ukraine.

Associate members in 4 countries and territories:

• Costa Rica.

• Nepal, Palestinian territories.

• Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Corresponding members in 12 countries:

• Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Togo, Tunisia.

• Australia.

• Belarus.

UNESCO NGO Section Data

Type of Relation with UNESCOConsulatative Status

Admission Date1970

Reclassification date1997

Programme sector: EDNo

Programme sector: SCNo

Programme sector: SHSNo

Programme sector: CLTYes

Programme sector: CIINo

Programme sector: BSPNo

Programme sector: AFRNo

Name and contact details of NGO focal point at UNESCOM. Poussin Georges
CLT/ACE/CES
g.poussin@unesco.org

History1970 Creation 1984 Category C 1990 Category B 1996 postpone decision (149 EX/ONG.2) (149 EX/Dec. 7.3) 1997 Formal consultative Relations (151 EX/ONG.2) (151 EX/Dec. 9.2) 2002 Renewal of Formal Consultative Relations (165 EX/ONG.2) (165 EX/Dec. 9.5) 2009 Renewal of formal consultative relations for a new six year period (181 EX/44) (181 EX/Dec.44)

Contribution to UNESCO's programmes The CIOFF represents a considerable network, which participates in numerous consultations and experts' meetings organized by UNESCO in the domains of the arts, the protection of the traditional and popular culture, the intangible cultural heritage (organization of the world first folkloriades in 1996, important contribution to the UNESCO programme) and for the implementation of the world Decade of cultural development. CIOFF is appreciated of Sectors of Culture and Education, it also played a role in the programme concerning Tchernobyl. Participation in the elaboration, adoption and application of the recommendation on the protection of traditional and popular culture.

Previous evaluation made by Programme sector concerned 164 EX/ONG/2 (April 2002): CIOFF is a highly motivated and dynamic partner of UNESCO, and has been closely involved in the activities of the Culture Sector. It has taken part on a regular basis in meetings on the intangible heritage, and enjoyed the patronage of UNESCO for the organization of two festivals, held in parallel with its congresses. It has also taken part in activities connected with the Slave Route, the Mediterranean Programme, Culture of Peace, the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People and the Promotion of Crafts. With its relatively balanced geographical distribution, with the exception of the Arab region, which remains under-represented, CIOFF expanded its regional activities during the period under consideration, in particular through the foundation of a CIOFF network in Africa with financial backing from UNESCO. It contributed to the 1995-2000 sexennial report and replied to the consultation on the drafting of document 30C/5. The Culture Sector, with which it mainly cooperates, appreciates this partnership which is essential for the implementation of practical actions to safeguard traditional and folk culture in the world. In addition, it considers that the evolution and diversification of the field of activities of CIOFF underscores the importance of developing its intersectoral cooperation, in particular with ED, SHS and the Africa Department.

Keywords Africa,Art,Volunteers,Artistic creativity,Culture,Danse,Youth,Music,Peace,Intangible Heritage,Theatre

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