Deadline: 30-Jun-23

Applicants are now invited to submit applications for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) program to strengthen cooperation with and among cities that have recognized creativity as a strategic factor of sustainable development as regards economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects.

By joining the Network, cities acknowledge their commitment to sharing best practices, developing partnerships that promote creativity and the cultural industries, strengthening participation in cultural life and integrating culture in urban development plans.

Fields: The UNESCO Creative Cities Network covers seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.

Objectives

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network aims to:

• strengthen international cooperation between cities that have recognized creativity as a strategic factor of their sustainable development;
• stimulate and enhance initiatives led by member cities to make creativity an essential component of urban development, notably through partnerships involving the public and private sectors and civil society.
• 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 as well as the enjoyment of cultural goods and services, notably for marginalized or vulnerable groups and individuals;
• fully integrate culture and creativity into local development strategies and plans.

Areas of Action

The objectives of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network are implemented both at the level of the member cities and at the international level, notably through the following areas of action:

• sharing experiences, knowledge and best practices;
• pilot projects, partnerships and initiatives associating the public and private sectors, and civil society;
• professional and artistic exchange programmes and networks;
• studies, research and evaluations on the experience of the Creative Cities;
• policies and measures for sustainable urban development;
• communication and awareness raising activities.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Call for Applications is open to all cities of UNESCO’s Member States and Associate Members.
• UNESCO reserves itself the right to restrict the Call for Applications, by taking into account specific geographical or thematic priorities, and may limit the maximum number of designations. For the 2023 Call, a maximum of two applications from a same country, and in two different creative fields, can be eligible for designation.
• Moreover, applications from under-represented regions within the Network, especially those from Africa and the Arab States, will be encouraged in order to enhance the Network’s geographic representation. The specific Cooperation Framework will be made available to cities from these two regions in the current Call.
• Cities that have submitted two consecutive unsuccessful applications to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, shall respect a moratorium of 4 years before presenting a new application.
• UCCN member cities recognize the importance of sustainable and inclusive urban development, and therefore commit to enhancing the contribution of culture and creativity to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

For more information, visit UNESCO.