IOV has as its goals and objectives the following :

To promote and preserve cultural diversity in the traditional folk culture, folk art, folklore and the cultural heritage both material and intangible.

To contribute to the education and safeguarding of the cultural identity of all peoples and nations and in so doing, to promote international understanding and peace in the world.

To consider the ever increasing role of science and the significant scientific results achieved by IOV in furthering its objectives.

To apply sound and well established scientific analysis and methodology to the study and preservation of cultural programs and activities, both national and international.  

To cooperate with the extensive international network on order to provide professional expertise in support of its projects.

To cooperate with the Organization of the United Nations for Education, Science, Culture and Communication (UNESCO)  to assist in the realization of its programs and in the implementation of the conventions and resolutions of UNESCO.

To promote the rights of the ethno-cultural communities in the spirit of their traditions. 

To encourage and support educational programs for the youth for the purpose of insuring the continuity of cultural traditions and the strengthening of the sense of cultural identity in the context of globalisation.


To accomplish the goals and objectives, IOV shall :

1. Safeguard education and promotion of folk culture, folk art and folklore in all cultural
    communities and in all countries of the world;
2. Organize international projects such as conferences, scientific colloquia, seminars,
    symposia on current programs and topics of folk culture, folk art and folklore;
3. Document and publish in all forms of media works related to all aspects of folk culture,
    both tangible and intangible, including scientific research and field work in folk culture;
4. Organize events such as exhibitions, festivals, crafts fairs and cultural exchanges;
5. Promote the cultural exchange of information, documentation, management expertise
    and cultural workers; 
6. Organize activities that are beneficial to, and promote the interests of, the endangered
    cultural communities of the world;
7. Organize the youth who have a common interest in all aspects of cultural traditions
    and involving them in youth-oriented programs;
8. Use all forms of mass-media for the purpose of education, promotion and raising awareness;
9. Fundraising to achieve the objectives of the organization from all legal sources, including :
  * Subsidies from national and international funding institutions such as foundations,
    corporations, government bodies, non governmental organizations, arts agencies, 
    individuals, and so forth;
  * Fundraising projects, such as festivals, exhibits, fairs, concerts, admission fees to exhibits
    and exhibitions;
  * Membership fees; and
  * Donations and testamentary (legacy) gifts.