BOUNTIFUL ó Dancers dressed in colorful costumes representing a dozen countries will be here next month. Theyíll be converging on Bountiful for the 20th annual Bountiful/Davis Summerfest International 2008. But even more international guests will be spending a few days here for the first ever IOV World Youth Congress and Scientific Symposium. IOV is the abbreviation for the English translation from German, International Organization of Folk Art. ìIt will be about two times its size,î said Larry Baird of the IOV Congress compared to Summerfest. He is vice-chairman of the Austria-headquartered groupís organizing committee. IOV will be held Aug. 6-Aug. 9, with most events free. Summerfest will overlap, go-ing Aug. 7-Aug. 9. The IOV event is a meeting of ìyoung people (up to age 40î and their mentors who work in cultural preservation and are concerned about safeguarding cultural heritage treasures likely to disappear unless urgent measures are taken to safeguard them. ##M:MORE##

China, which will be hosting the Summer Olympics at the same time, will have a large presence, he said.

For example, an intricate loom, with 1,924 moving parts, that is 24 feet long and stands 18 feet high, is being shipped from China and reassembled here.

It will be on display at the South Davis Recreation Center, under heavy security. This is only the second time the loom has ever left China, the first being for an exhibit in Paris, Baird said.

ìThat will be just one of 43 presentations,î he said. ìThere will be robes on display from the emperor, tapestriesî and more.

CCTV, Chinaís largest TV network, will film a documentary that will be viewed by an estimated 400 million people. The Voice of America Central Asia Service will also air reports from the Congress.

ìChina is promoting how the U.S. likes Chinese culture. They will talk with Americans, and learn how others feel. There will be a documentary highlighting Bountiful,î Baird said.

Utah, U.S. and the culture of other nations will also be highlighted, said Rich Tuttle, the Bountiful/Davis Arts Center program coordinator.

The BDAC is providing support and coordination for both events. The success of Summerfest is the reason the IOV is coming to Bountiful, Baird said. ìItís not just Summerfest. Internationally, it is very well known. All over the world they know about this crown jewel in the U.S. Itís the longest running, at 20 years, in the U.S.î

The IOV falls under the auspices of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Among events is a dinner typical of what was eaten in Azerbaijan in the 13th Century. It will be prepared and served at the Davis Applied Technology College in Kaysville.

There will be a charge to help cover the cost, which includes finding spices and ingredients that arenít readily available locally.

A tour of Bountifulís Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home will also be offered Aug. 9, with proceeds to benefit BDAC.

Summerfest, meanwhile, will feature international performing groups from China, Costa Rica, Greece, India, Israel, Mexico, Mongolia, Romania, Russia Cossacks and Russia Siberia, South Korean and the USA.

There will be 12 ethnic food booths, fine arts and crafts booths, childrenís art yard, and a street dance.

Volunteers are needed to assist with both events, as well as host visitors. Donations are also sought for IOV, which is a non-profit event and organization. For more information, call 292-0367 or visit the BDAC Web site at www.

bdac.org.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com