Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In the section below, you can find answers to your questions.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities that have identified culture and creativity as strategic factors for sustainable urban development. The 300 cities that make up the Network work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their local development plans and actively cooperating at the international level.
By joining the Network, cities commit to sharing their positive experiences and fostering cooperation among the private and public sectors and civil society in order to:
- strengthen the creation, production and distribution of cultural activities, products and services;
- develop hubs of creativity and innovation and expand opportunities for creative professionals and practitioners in the cultural sector;
- improve access to and participation in cultural life, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable groups and individuals;
- fully integrate culture and creativity into sustainable development plans.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network covers seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network is a privileged partner of UNESCO. It serves not only as a platform for reflecting on the role of creativity as a lever for sustainable development, but also as a space for fostering action and innovation.
Objectives
- Strengthening creativity, production, distribution and access to cultural products and services at the local level;
- Promoting creativity and creative expression, particularly among vulnerable groups, including women and youth;
- Increasing access to and participation in cultural life, as well as access to cultural products;
- Integrating cultural and creative industries into local development plans.
Areas of Activity
The objectives of Creative Cities are pursued through cooperation in the following areas:
- Pilot projects: Innovations that demonstrate the importance of creativity as a key driver of development;
- Promotion of good practices: Exchange of projects and formal activities whose effectiveness has been demonstrated;
- Research: Research, analysis and evaluation of the experiences of Creative Cities;
- Meetings: Consultative meetings in both virtual and physical settings;
- Cooperation programmes: North–South, South–South and North–South–South initiatives to support members in need of assistance;
- Training and capacity-building: Exchange of trainees and training programmes;
- Policy-making: Innovations related to local and/or national development plans.
Participatory Process
The municipality must undertake the application process and complete the application form through a participatory process involving all stakeholders, as well as partners from the private and public sectors and civil society.
Forward-Looking Approach
The city’s cultural heritage and existing creative assets should form the pillars of an action plan capable of contributing to sustainable urban development.
Comprehensive Sustainable Development
UNESCO Creative Cities enhance sustainable urban development through creativity across the economic, cultural, social and environmental dimensions. It is important to adopt a comprehensive approach to development planning that takes all these factors into account.
Long-Term Commitment
Cities considering participation in the programme should understand that being designated as a Creative City entails an active commitment to advancing the objectives of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. In particular, the designated city must prepare an action plan and report on its achievements at the annual meetings of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
Concrete and Specific Action Plan
Applicants must identify in the application form the projects, innovations and/or policies that are to be implemented at the local and international levels during the four years following designation as a Creative City. The outcomes and impact of these innovations should be assessed through a self-monitoring process.
Exchanges and Cooperation
Exchanges among cities belonging to the Network are of great importance and constitute one of its main objectives. It is also important for Creative Cities to demonstrate their capacity to develop joint activities and collaborative innovations with Network members at the international level.
Consider the Broader Vision of the Programme
The action plan should effectively align the city’s priority needs with the objectives of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and ensure consistency with the city’s available management, financial and human resources.
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