Safety and Standards: What Does the CIOFF® Quality Mark Truly Mean?

Festivals organized under the auspices of the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF®) are much more than celebrations of tradition, music, and dance. First and foremost, they serve as a global platform for international understanding, which places a profound responsibility on us as an international organization dedicated to safeguarding its members.

The CIOFF® certificate is a brand that demands excellence. Below are the key pillars that form the foundation of proper festival organization, alongside a reflection on the critical boundaries that must never be crossed.

1. Organizers' Responsibilities: Standards Without Compromise

The organizer of a CIOFF®-affiliated festival is not merely a host of concerts they are the ultimate guarantor of the well-being of the invited artists. Professionalism in logistical preparation is the bedrock of our credibility.

Health and Safety of Participants:

This is an absolute, non-negotiable priority. Every festival must implement clear evacuation procedures, professional medical security (both backstage and at accommodation sites), and efficient emergency communication channels.

Occupational Health and Rest Time:

Artists are cultural workers, not machines. Overcrowded schedules, hours of grueling rehearsals in scorching sun without breaks, or lack of access to water are entirely unacceptable. Timetables must respect the need for regeneration, proper meals, and adequate sleep.

Decent Living Conditions:

Dignified accommodation, balanced and safe catering (respecting dietary restrictions), and reliable internal transport are minimum standards from which there can be no deviation.

Reliability and Integrity:

All agreements stipulated in contracts and regulations must be executed precisely. Unfulfilled promises erode the global trust that CIOFF® has built over decades.

2. Groups' Responsibilities: Professionalism and Mutual Respect

We hold our guest performers to the same high standards as our hosts. Ensembles representing their countries under the CIOFF® flag act as ambassadors for their homelands and for the organization itself.

Conduct and Professionalism:

Punctuality, readiness to cooperate with technical staff and volunteers, and strict discipline during rehearsals and concerts are fundamental.

Adherence to Festival Regulations:

Every group is strictly required to comply with the internal rules of the event, local health and safety regulations, and the laws of the host country.

Personal Culture and Respecting Diversity:

The essence of CIOFF® is intercultural dialogue. This means absolute zero tolerance for discriminatory behavior, aggression, vulgarity, or substance abuse. Respect must be extended to everyone from the festival director and fellow artists to the technical crew and cleaning staff.

A Perspective on Critical Elements. Why Protecting the CIOFF® Image Demands Clear Mechanisms?

The CIOFF® brand has been built over generations on a foundation of trust, professionalism, and deep respect for human dignity. In today's interconnected world, a single incident resulting from gross negligence can cast a shadow over the tireless work of thousands of volunteers and cultural enthusiasts worldwide.

Within the international community, there is a growing and vital conversation regarding the need for even more precise and uncompromising verification tools. As a collective shaping this organization, we should actively champion a framework where failure to meet fundamental standards is met with swift, rigorous evaluation.

Particular attention must be paid to critical areas that require strict oversight:

• Threats to Health or Life resulting from flagrant logistical or infrastructural deficiencies.

• Systemic Violation of Participants' Rights (such as severe deprivation of rest or substandard sanitary conditions).

• Behavior by Groups or Delegates that Violates Human Dignity (any form of discrimination, hostility, or severe lack of personal culture).

The Direction We Must Pursue

As a global family we must clearly articulate one shared stance: the reputation of our organization is inviolable.

Institutions, festivals, or groups that flagrantly and knowingly disregard these essential criteria distance themselves from our core values. The very logic of our mission dictates that entities failing to meet these requirements should forfeit the right to identify with the CIOFF® movement, including the privilege of using our colors, symbols, and logos. We look forward to seeing formal statutory mechanisms address such instances swiftly, inevitably, and with utmost firmness.