CIOFF^®

CIOFF® EXCO and Council meetings will take place in San Jose, Costa Rica, March 23 - 30, 2014. Hosted by CIOFF® Costa Rica and organized by Hans Leiton Guitierrez, the meeting has received official recognition by the President of the Republic of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla Miranda. Costa Rica Minister of Culture, Manuel Obregon, has also pledged support. That the government of the Republic of Costa Rica endorses and supports CIOFF® is an indication of the good work of CIOFF® Costa Rica and is a great achievement!

Important outcomes from the CIOFF ® General Assembly in Zacatecas included elections of new officers. The following officers were elected: President Philippe Beaussant (France), Secretary General Olga Maloney (United Kingdom) and Vice President for Administration, Norbert Mueller (Germany) were newly elected. Vice President of Culture, Professor Alcides Hugo Ifran (Argentina) and Treasurer Esa Vilhonen (Finland) were re-elected. Beatriz Sangoy (Argentina) was elected as Chair of the Cultural Commission, Namyong Kim (South Korea) was elected as Chair of the Festivals Commission, and Karen Babcock (USA) was elected Chair of the Communications and Public Relations Commission.

Participants from 60 countries were treated to performances of Mexican Mariachi bands and dancers, including a special “fashion” show of traditional dress styles worn throughout the regions of Mexico. Attendees also enjoyed tours of this UNESCO World Heritage city and museums of Zacatecas as well as Day of the Dead celebrations.

During the World Congress 2013, it was announced that the CIOFF® flagship event, Folkloriada, would take place in Zacatecas, Mexico in July 2016. The Governor of the State of Zacatecas, Miguel Alejandro Alonso Reyes, was joined by CIOFF® Mexico President Professor Alejandro Camacho and CIOFF® Past-President Udomsak Sakmunwong, President Philippe Beaussant, Secretary General Olga Maloney and Council Members, to sign the agreement. The Folkloriada Festival is held every 4 years in a different host country, featuring dancers and musicians from about 70 countries in an extravagant celebration of the world’s rich, diverse folklore and CIOFF® International’s work to promote intangible cultural heritage.

The 43rd CIOFF® annual World Congress was held in Zacatecas, Mexico, October 26 - November 2, 2013. The Congress was graciously hosted by CIOFF® Mexico, led by President Professor Alejandro Camacho.

Since 2012, CIOFF ® has been working in Official Partnership with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and is accredited to the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. As such, both the 2013 CIOFF® World Congress received High Patronage of UNESCO. UNESCO Director General Mme Irina Bokova emphasized during the 2012 World Congress in Paris that “UNESCO and CIOFF® share the same goal: to promote the diversity of cultural expressions and raise the potential for human development.”

CIOFF® EXCO & Council Spring Meeting will take place between 23rd and 30th March 2014 in San Jose, Costa Rica, organised by CIOFF® Costa Rica National Section.