TOLERANCE AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS

I’m honoured to introduce Volume 4, Issue No. 12 of Folk Culture, the quarterly periodical of Arab folk art and culture, to its many readers throughout the world.

This publication attests to the vision of Ali Abdulla Khalifa, the Editor in Chief, and my friend. Because of him and his colleagues, Folk Culture occupies a place of prominence among the most respected scientific journals of today.  The success of this publication can be seen on every page that follows.
Assisting him along the way is the International Organization of Folk Art, or IOV. The name and logo of IOV appear on every issue of Folk Culture in recognition of the many individual and institutional members of IOV that have given their support over the years to this endeavour.

Folk Culture is made possible by the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa. Through his ongoing support of Folk Culture, His Majesty demonstrates his commitment to protecting and preserving the folk traditions of his people. Such support is unmatched anywhere in the world and is greatly appreciated by the members of IOV, as well as by the readers of Folk Culture.

This year, IOV celebrates amilestone in its history; thirty years ago, four men laid the foundation for what has become the world’s largest non-governmental organization dedicated solely to promoting folk art and culture. The IOV family is made of over 4,200 individuals and institutions in more or less 160 countries. We are dancers, musicians, handicraft artists, academicians, storytellers, practitioners of traditional medicine and festival organizers. We are professional folklorists and amateur enthusiasts. We count among our membership high ranking government officials, cultural workers and artists, as well as wood carvers, wavers and cooks.

Twenty years ago, IOV established formal relations with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In October 2009, IOV was accredited by UNESCO to provide advisory services to the inter-governmental committee responsible for implementing the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. In addition, forty IOV scientists and academicians, more than any other single organization, including members of the Board of Editors of Folk Culture, were accredited as individual experts by UNESCO and have been added to the roster of experts maintained by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Section at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Many of these same experts are frequent contributors, readers and members of the Folk Culture editorial board. This is another demonstration of effective co-operation between this publication and IOV.

Last October this year, IOV members met in Nanjing, China, coinciding with the IOV youth, who held the Second IOV World Youth Congress. For the rest of us, it was an opportunity to celebrate the thirty year anniversary of IOV. Among the membership of IOV who  participated in these events were many readers and members of the editorial board of Folk Culture. The co-operation that exits between IOV and Folk Culture is an example to others of how two entitles with different missions can work together to accomplish great things. Together, as partners, IOV and Folk Culture will continue teaching tolerance and respect for the cultures of all people.

Welcome to Folk Culture
George Frandsen
U S A

Member of IOV
Presidential Council