New partner report
Nomadic heritage in focus at Issyk-Kul
Scholars and cultural representatives from 28 countries met during the 6th World Nomad Games to consider how nomadic heritage can remain living and relevant.
UNESCO-accredited NGO under the 2003 Convention since 2010
NGO in official partnership with UNESCO · Consultative status
Living heritage is carried by people.
IOV connects cultural practitioners, communities, researchers and organisations so knowledge can be practised, documented and passed forward.
- Founded
- 1979
- Regions
- 7
- Countries listed
- 53
IOV newsroom
Current work and institutional updates
International cooperation
Chen Ping visits Qingdeng art community in Wenzhou
The visit connected traditional craft, youth participation and possible cooperation between Qingdeng and IOV.
Read IOV President Chen Ping visits Qingdeng International Art Community in Wenzhou
Governance
Executive Committee sets priorities for IOV’s next chapter
Professor Chen Ping chaired discussions on institutional development, membership, new media, youth leadership and preparations for the 2027 General Assembly.
Read IOV Executive Committee meets in Bergamo
Traditional crafts
Women and young makers meet in Beijing
An international seminar highlighted women’s essential role in preserving, transmitting and renewing traditional handicraft knowledge.
Read Women and traditional handicrafts in BeijingExplore IOV
Three ways into a living cultural network
Choose the route that matches your question: discover cultural records, follow institutional memory or find learning material.
Cultural Explorer
Begin with a place, practice or community
Search cultural records while keeping source, rights and community context visible.
IOV partner archive · Latvia
Open cultural explorer
Digital Archive
Follow documents and memory
Enter the growing directory of assembly, event and cultural records.
Public-domain collection image
Open digital archive
Learning Hub
Carry knowledge forward
Find entry points for schools, researchers and young cultural leaders.
IOV partner archive · Thailand
Open learning hubParticipate
There are several ways into the network.
Choose a route based on what you want to do. Each destination explains the next step before asking for information.
IOV World updates
Choose IOV World updates in your website account and confirm the request by email.