What is the Creative Cities Network?

The Creative Cities Network is a global platform serving to lead the way in the promotion of worldwide city reform and development. It is designed to promote and maintain the cultural diversity in the midst of a growing trend towards economic and technological globalization. The cities from UNESCO member states are encouraged to apply to the network voluntarily, sharing with administrators and people all over the world their experience, creative concepts and innovative ideas in the social, economic and cultural development of the cities.

Development trends of the Creative Cites Network

Since Edinburgh, UK became the first UNESCO city of Literature in 2004, each year sees an increasing number of cities join in the network and spreads to other parts around the globe. By the end of October, 2010, a total of 25 cities from 17 countries have joined the Creative Cities Network. In China, Shanghai, Chengdu and Harbin were entitled city of Design, city of Gastronomy and city of Music respectively in 2010 after Shenzhen, the first Chinese city accepted by UNESCO as the City of Design in 2008. An array of other cities like Xiamen, Hangzhou, Beijing, Shunde and Dongyang are among those ready to put forward the application. “The City of Creativity” has been a buzzword that cities around the world are going after to gain an edge in their competition.

In 2008, the first Creative Cities Network International Conference was held in Santa Fe, the first American city appointed as UNESCO city of Craft, and then Icheon City, South Korea hosted the 2nd forum on UNESCO Creative Cities Network. This year, The UNESCO Creative Cities Network 2010 International Conference will be held in Shenzhen, in which “Shenzhen Declaration of Global Creative Cities cooperation” will be published to promote the idea of “better city comes from creativity” through strengthening exchange and cooperation, and to come to an agreement on the future of creative cities. The meeting also marks the first UNESCO Creative Cities Network meeting held in China.

How to apply?

1. The city submits a finalized application bid to UNESCO accompanied by an official letter of endorsement of the mayor of the city.

2. Immediately, UNESCO will request support from the relevant National Commission for UNESCO. If the National Commission does not approve the bid, then the candidature may be rejected.

3. The bid is then examined by an external panel of experts from NGOs specialized in the field the city is bidding for, who will make recommendations to the Director-General of UNESCO concerning the application bid.

4. The Director-General of UNESCO takes the final decision whether or not to accept the city’s candidature, after consulting the recommendations of the panel of experts.

Duration of Membership in the Creative Cities Network

Cities have to inform UNESCO on an annual basis of the progress made in the implementation of policies and activities, both locally and internationally and in cooperation with other cities. If after two written reminders, a city does not submit this information or, if it appears that a city no longer fulfils its commitments, UNESCO may invite the city to leave the network.