The European Association of Folklore Festivals  - EAFF has been established in year 2007 in the ancient capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Tarnovo. Its main purpose is to preserve, develop and make popular the folklore of the different European nations by organizing festivals and using the modern television, computer and other information technologies.

The European Association of Folklore Festivals – EAFF is ICH Partner of UNESCO Accreditation request No. NGO-90338 -  Accredited to the UNESCO ICH Committee.
Decision-making meeting: 6.GA - 2016 -  The sixth session of the General Assembly of the States Parties took place from 30 May to 1 June 2016 at UNESCO Headquarters.

• 2016: UNESCO accredited EAFF to provide advisory services to the Intergovernmental Committee in the framework of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage
• 2016: UNESCO can identifies EAFF experts in the ICH
• 2019 - 2023: UNESCO identifies EAFF expert member of the Evaluation Body to Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

In 1945, UNESCO was created in order to respond to the firm belief of nations, forged by two world wars in less than a generation, that political and economic agreements are not enough to build a lasting peace. Peace must be established on the basis of humanity’s moral and intellectual solidarity.
UNESCO strives to build networks among nations that enable this kind of solidarity, by:

• Mobilizing for education: so that every child, boy or girl, has access to quality education as a fundamental human right and as a prerequisite for human development.
• Building intercultural understanding: through protection of heritage and support for cultural diversity. UNESCO created the idea of World Heritage to protect sites of outstanding universal value.
• Pursuing scientific cooperation: such as early warning systems for tsunamis or trans-boundary water management agreements, to strengthen ties between nations and societies.
• Protecting freedom of expression: an essential condition for democracy, development and human dignity.

See more at: http://en.unesco.org/about-us/introducing-unesco

The European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF achieves its activities mainly through the festivals of the Musical Feasts “Euro Folk” and through the worldwide Internet Television “Euro FolkTV”. The basic feature of the festivals from the Musical Feasts “Euro Folk” is the complete filming with professional TV equipment of all the performances together with making different audio and TV products. At the Musical Feasts “Euro Folk” festivals that have been held so far 6,000 groups with more than 120 000 participants have taken part. The European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF operates in cooperation with televisions from Bulgaria and Europe, with folklore ensembles, groups, municipalities, community centres, schools and other organizations of cultural activities. 

The European Association of Folklore Festivals – EAFF is member of the International Organization of Folk Arts -  IOV WORLD. EAFF joined the list of the prestigious world organization under number 4890. As a member, EAFF cooperates with the network of members in which participate professors, folklorists, folklore researchers and performers (not only amateurs, but professionals also), as well as culture and education institutions such as museums, universities and others. IOV was established in 1979.

In 1998, IOV entered into Operational Relations with UNESCO. In recent years, new partnerships have been formed and older ones strengthened:

• 2010: UNESCO accredits IOV as a Consultant to the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
• 2010: UNESCO identifies 40 IOV experts in the ICH
• 2011: UNESCO reclassifies IOV to Formal Consultative Relations
• 2012: IOV enters Special Consultative Relations with The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

   The European Association of Folklore Festivals – EAFF is member of the - International Mask Arts & Culture Organization (IMACO).

   IMACO is formal consultative relations with UNESCO. IMACO aims to archive and research the all the source of traditional mask data, and support in field of education such as mask making, performance training etc. IMACO intend to collect 3D resources of international masks by utilizing the latest IT technology, and build a network system between international mask culture organizations.  The members of IMACO are consist of the group organizations that contribute to mask arts and culture such as countries, local governments, mask research groups, museums, etc., or individuals who are mask artists, mask researchers, mask performers, etc.

The European Association of Folklore Festivals – EAFF is member of the International Dance Concil - CID under number 16482- http://www.cid-portal.org