Associations have an important role in the emergence and development of folklore as a discipline both in the world and in Türkiye. These associations have contributed to the development of the discipline by carrying out various activities for the research, archiving and publication of folk culture. Compilationtrips, published compilation guides and journaling activities have led to the formation of an important literature on folklore. In this way, associations have helped folklore to be recognized and valued as a discipline. In this article, firstly, the influence of folklore associations in the world is explained chronologically, and then an explanation of the associations and activities related to folklore studies in Türkiye is tried to be brought. The article discusses the evolution of the relationship between folklore studies and associations and how associations in Türkiye have adapted to the perspective of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. The text particularly emphasizes the impact of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage on the change in the work of folklore associations. This Convention aims to safeguard, protect, and transmit intangible cultural heritage elements to future generations. Within the framework of this Convention, associations have assumed an important role to revive, disseminate and transfer traditional practices and cultural heritage to future generations through education. In this article, examples of various associations are given to explain how these associations operate, organize projects, and keep cultural heritage alive. It is seen that associations operating in different fields such as handicrafts, storytelling, archery, etc. carry out activities to revive traditional values in accordance with the Convention. In conclusion, the article analyses the history of folklore associations in Türkiye, their activities, and their contribution to the development of folklore as a discipline from the perspective of compilation, archiving and documentation, while explaining the change of associations from the perspective of implementation, revitalization and transmit to future generations. This transformation, evolving from local to universal and from national to international perspectives, sheds light on the symbiotic relationship between folklore associations and the field of folklore studies.
Non-governmental organizations, folklore, journal circuit, accreditation, UNESCO.