The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development
By joining the Network, cities commit to sharing their best practices and developing partnerships involving the public and private sectors as well as civil society in order to:
strengthen the creation, production, distribution and dissemination of cultural activities, goods and services
develop hubs of creativity and innovation and broaden opportunities for creators and professionals in the cultural sector
improve access to and participation in cultural life, in particular for marginalized or vulnerable groups and individuals
Fully integrate culture and creativity into sustainable development plans.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network now counts around 246 cities.
The member cities that form part of the Network come from all continents and regions with different income levels and populations.
The Creative Cities Network is a privileged partner of UNESCO, not only as a platform for reflection on the role of creativity as a lever for sustainable development but also as a breeding ground of action and innovation, notably for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
They work together towards a common mission: placing creativity and the creative economy at the core of their urban development plans to make cities safe, resilient, inclusive and sustainable, in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The 7 categories for recognition under UCCN are;
Crafts and Folk Arts
Design
Film
Gastronomy
Music
Media Arts
Literature
Indian Cities under UCCN
In 2019 UNESCO designated Mumbai as a member of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of FILM and Hyderabad in the field of GASTRONOMY.
Other Indian cities which were recognized as members of UCCN, namely-
Jaipur-Crafts and Folk Arts(2015)
Varanasi-Creative city of Music (2015)
Chennai-Creative city of Music(2017)
