The CIOFF® Italy Section was founded in Latina in 1987 and currently consists of 20 member festivals. It is a private, non-governmental, apolitical, and non-partisan association, run on a volunteer basis, established for an indefinite period, and operating on a nonprofit basis. It represents the Italian National Section of the larger global organization CIOFF®—Conseil International des Organisations de Festivals de Folklore et d’Arts Traditionnels—founded in 1970 in Confolens (France), which today has a presence in more than 100 countries across all continents and actively collaborates with UNESCO, in accordance with the cooperation agreements signed between the two organizations.
The CIOFF® Italy Section pursues the following general objectives:
to contribute to the promotion and dissemination of a culture of peace and nonviolence, solidarity, friendship among peoples, and the protection of civil rights;
to promote international understanding, the exchange of knowledge and experiences, and the preservation of the many treasures of “traditional and folk culture,” with special attention to younger generations and “ethnic and linguistic minorities.”
To achieve these objectives, the Association carries out the following activities in particular:
the organization of cultural, artistic, and folkloric events of international significance;
the coordination of folklore festivals organized by its members, through the creation of “circuits” and the preparation of an annual calendar of the Section’s festivals linked to the general calendar of CIOFF® Worldwide;
the organization of exchanges between Italian and foreign folk groups;
the conduct of research, studies, scientific conferences, exhibitions, and publications on “folk traditions,” and in particular on music, dance, costumes, and song;
a collaboration with the Italian National Commission for UNESCO, with other National Sections affiliated with CIOFF®, and with various organizations and institutions that share the same objectives.
