Gwalior and Kozhikode among the list of 55 new cities UNESCO Creative Cities network
- In Reports
- 06:54 PM, Nov 01, 2023
- Myind Staff
India's Gwalior and Kozhikode are among the 55 new cities that have recently joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, as announced on the official UNESCO website. These cities were recognized for their dedication to leveraging culture and creativity as integral elements of their development strategies. They have also demonstrated innovative approaches to human-centered urban planning, according to a statement by UNESCO.
On World Cities Day, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay designated these 55 cities to be part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Gwalior, situated in Madhya Pradesh, secured a coveted spot in the 'Music' category, while Kozhikode in Kerala earned its place in the 'Literature' category.
UNESCO has disclosed the full list of these 55 newly inducted cities, with a diverse range of categories. These include cities such as Bukhara (Crafts and Folk Art), Casablanca (Media Arts), Chongqing (Design), Kathmandu (Film), Rio de Janeiro (Literature), and Ulaanbaatar (Crafts and Folk Art). The inclusion of these cities underscores the growing importance of culture and creativity in urban development on a global scale.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) has grown significantly with the inclusion of these new cities, bringing the total count to 350 cities spanning over a hundred countries. These cities collectively represent seven diverse creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music, as reported by UNESCO in its statement. This expansion underscores the network's global reach and the rich diversity of creative domains contributing to urban and cultural development.
Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, was quoted as saying in the statement, "The cities in our Creative Cities Network are leading the way when it comes to enhancing access to culture and galvanizing the power of creativity for urban resilience and development."
An upcoming policy paper, titled "The Added Value of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network at local, national, and international levels," will bear witness to the pivotal role assumed by cities in advancing the 2030 Agenda. The paper will illustrate how UNESCO actively supports UCCN members by facilitating dialogue, promoting peer-to-peer learning, and fostering collaboration, as highlighted in the statement.
The recently designated Creative Cities are cordially invited to take part in the 2024 UCCN Annual Conference, scheduled for July 1-5, 2024, in Braga, Portugal. The conference's theme, as stated in the official communication, will center on "Bringing Youth to the table for the next decade."
Image source: India TV
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