Since its launch in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) has been empowering cities worldwide to leverage the transformative power of culture and creativity as drivers of more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development. In the past decade, the UCCN has demonstrated that culture and creativity are meaningful drivers of sustainable development, generating jobs, boosting local economies, and strengthening social cohesion.
Encompassing eight creative fields – Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, Music, and Architecture – the UCCN promotes cross-sectoral and integrated approaches to culture. Today, it brings together 408 cities across more than 100 countries, all recognized for their commitment to fostering creative industries and enriching cultural life.
At the local level, the UCCN brings creativity to life through initiatives that build skills, support creative professionals, and engage communities. By investing in cultural sectors, cities develop strategies that address local priorities while advancing global objectives, including the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In today’s interconnected world, collaboration and peer learning are essential to harness creativity for urban development and tackle shared challenges. UCCN serves as a global platform for dialogue, cooperation, and knowledge exchange, enabling cities to inspire one another and amplify the economic, social, and environmental impact of their cultural policies. As a laboratory of ideas and practices, the Network offers unique opportunities to experiment, share solutions, and transform cultural assets into drivers of sustainable, inclusive, and balanced development.
Complementing the Creative Cities’ focus on innovation and cultural industries, the UNESCO World Heritage Cities Programme was launched in 2001 to support States Parties in safeguarding urban heritage while aligning conservation with contemporary urban development. With over 300 World Heritage Cities across all regions, urban heritage represents one of the most abundant and diverse categories on the World Heritage List – bringing dynamism to policy and practice, but also complexity in day to day management.
