The Executive Committee meeting of the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV) was held in Bergamo, Italy, from May 8 to 9, 2026. The newly elected Global President of IOV chaired the meeting. The discussions focused on key priorities during the organization's current transitional phase, covering financial arrangements, personnel changes in the finance department, membership management, the development of young leaders, the work of national sections, website updates, new media communication, publishing plans, legal support, the establishment of new committees, and preparations for the 2027 World Congress. The Executive Committee exchanged views on financial transition and subsequent arrangements, and confirmed that new account arrangements would continue to be advanced to support the organization's management and operations in the next phase, with relevant work to be carried out in accordance with established procedures. Membership affairs were a major topic of the meeting, including discussions on the admission of new members, fee policies, membership certificates, and updates to the management system. Participants agreed on the need to further improve membership management processes, enhancing the clarity and continuity of information processing and services. The meeting also heard progress reports on the work of national sections. Discussions revealed differences in activity implementation, information feedback, and reporting across different countries and regions. Participants agreed that communication and collaboration with national sections should be strengthened in the future to support their continued activity and engagement in the organization's development. In terms of communication and platform development, the IOV Global President highlighted the challenges posed to international organizations by youth, women, the era of big data, and artificial intelligence. She proposed strengthening internal capacity to enhance the professional capabilities of the international organization and increase its appeal to young people. She also suggested leveraging the reach of new media to boost the organization's influence, actively aligning its efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of UNESCO conventions on the protection of cultural heritage and intangible heritage.

Editor Ⅰ: Zhang Congxiao

Editor Ⅱ: Bao Gang

Editor Ⅲ: Liu Guosong