IOV Taiwan, the representative member of the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV), NGO in operational relationship with UNESCO, was officially founded as a non-profit cultural association on Oct. 16, 1999 in compliance with the regulations of the Ministry of Interior Affairs in Taiwan.  In support of the mission of IOV - to promote the mutual understanding and respect among peoples of the world - IOV Taiwan aims to promote the awareness of Taiwanese culture on the world arena, as well as to increase the local appreciation of the cultural diversity of the world, in hope to create a more harmonious civil society.

     As the guardian of cultural heritage, UNESCO has been at the forefront of oral and intangible heritage preservation for years, with the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003, encouraging governments, NGOs, and local communities to identify, safeguard, revitalize and promote their oral and intangible heritage.  As the accumulation of popular living wisdom, folk arts are also the best manifestation of this heritage.  IOV Taiwan hopes to join the international community in dialogue, meanwhile to assist the local communities with joint efforts in the promotion and preservation of intangible cultural heritage in Taiwan.  

     
     “Intercultural learning" suggests that two (or more) different cultures can learn from each other.  It refers to an individual process of acquiring knowledge, attitudes, or behavior that is connected with the interaction of different cultures.  In a larger context, it denotes a concept of how people with different backgrounds can live together peacefully, and the process that is needed to build such a society.  In an era of globalization, the safeguarding of local cultural heritage in maintenance of cultural diversity of the world, the promotion of intercultural dialogues and learning have become a common concern on the international arena.  

     In order to broaden and deepen our work, the Inter-Culture & Arts Association (ICAA) was entitled in 2004 in parallel with the operation of IOV Taiwan.  With the joint concept, ICAA, IOV Taiwan dedicates itself to the preservation of intangible cultural heritage of humanity and serves to spread the seeds of intercultural learning—tolerance and respect to cultural diversity of the world.