The International Association of Art (IAA/AIAP) was established in 1954 at the initiative of UNESCO and 92 National Committees; it is the largest non-governmental organisation of visual artists. Several visual artists' organisations have shown their interest in becoming member in future.

The financial status of the IAA/AIAP being based solely on membership fees payable by its members, since 1956 UNESCO has offered it the possibility of having an office at its disposal in Paris, rue Miollis, and has assisted the IAA/AIAP in various ways. Normally membership fees are not very high: certain National Committees from Europe and Asia and large countries contribute more generously, the majority of the members only paying a modest contribution, for they are not supported by their national government. UNESCO has supported the IAA/AIAP financially in executing its cultural projects and publications in the past such as "l'Art et le Public" or "La Situation Sociale, Economique et Professionnelle des Artistes".

The Statutes of the IAA/AIAP were drawn up in conjunction with UNESCO. In terms of the Statutes, the General Assembly elects the President, the Vice-President and the Coordinators of the five regions of the IAA/AIAP (Asia and the Pacific, Africa, the Arab States, Latin America and the Caraïbes, Europe), as well as five other members of the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee elects the Executive Secretary who is responsible for the administration of the Association, for example: the dissemination of information regarding matters of interest, issuing Professional Identity Cards for Visual Artists to National Committees, and is in charge of coordination relating to the General Assembly and other events.

Up to the present, General Assemblies of the IAA/AIAP were financed by countries who were hosting it

Development from 1995 to 2007:

In 1995, the General Assembly was held in Mexico.

The elected President was Mrs Una Walker (Ireland).

en 2002, the General Assembly was held in Athens.

The elected President was Mrs Lily Bakoyannis (Greece).

In 2005, the General Assembly was held in Beijing.

The elected President was Mr Liu Dawei (China).

The next General Assembly will take place in December 2009.

Kuwait has proposed to be the host country for the meeting.