Datuk Dr. Lee Kim Shin delivering the official address at the opening ceremony.
Miri – 21 January 2014 – Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) is hosting the first-ever International Organisation of Folkart (IOV) Youth Asia Congress in Asia from 21 to 25 January 2014 at the Curtin Sarawak campus.
Themed ‘Tastes of Asia – A Cultural Journey’ – Asian Peace through Cultural Understanding, the congress is organised by the Leadership and Entrepreneurship Centre (LEC) of the University Life Department.
80 delegates from 16 countries including Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan are attending the congress where they will participate in dynamic discussions on how food impacts cultures and societies.
The congress particularly focuses on intangible cultural heritage of food (traditional cultures, religions, medicines and others); UNESCO mandate on the intangible cultural heritage and why we should protect it; and shaping a new narrative for globalisation, consumption and mass production in the global economy. It will also feature discussions on future projects, with focus on collaborations among youths of Asia.
Carmen D. Padilla, President of the International Organisation of Folk Art (IOV).
Throughout the five-day congress, the delegates will be involved in paper presentations, cluster discussions and workshops, visit to local markets and Iban longhouse, practical demo of food from various countries and networking dinner.
The opening ceremony on 21 January was attended by Datuk Dr. Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister of Communications and Assistant Minister of Sports Sarawak, who is also chair of Curtin Sarawak’s management board; Carmen D. Padilla, President of the International Organisation of Folk Art (IOV); and Professor Yudi Samyudia, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin Sarawak.
On 24 January, the Azerbaijan ambassador to Malaysia, His Excellency Professor Dr. Qaley Allahverdiyev, will be present at the congress to meet up with the Azerbaijan delegation.
IOV is a worldwide organisation of individuals and institutions working to document, preserve, and promote all forms of folk art, both tangible and intangible. The UNESCO 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, provide the foundation for IOV programmes and projects.
For more event information, one can visit the IOV website at www.iov-world.com or e-mail to [email protected].
For more information on Curtin Sarawak, visit its website at www.curtin.edu.my, its Facebook page at facebook.com/CurtinUniversitySarawakMalaysia, Twitter profile at twitter.com/curtinsarawak, YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/CurtinUniSarawak, or Instagram at instagram.com/curtinsarawak.
Invited guests and congress delegates in a photo call at the end of the opening ceremony.
