In a major achievement, Srinagar has been selected among the 49 cities across the world by UNESCO in recognition of the city’s commitment to placing culture and creativity at the heart of development and to sharing knowledge and good practices.
Srinagar now is a part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
The list of cities was revealed by UNESCO on Monday on its official website.
UNESCO has chosen Srinagar for its focus on Craft and Folk Art.
The UNESCO Network now numbers 295 cities reaching 90 countries that invest in culture and creativity – crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music – to advance sustainable urban development.
“A new urban model needs to be developed in every city, with its architects, town planners, landscapers and citizens”, says UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, “We are urging everyone to work with States to reinforce the international cooperation between cities which UNESCO wishes to promote.”
Apart from Srinagar, some other cities to make it to the Network include Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bursa (Turkey).
Newly designated Creative Cities such as Bohicon, Doha and Jakarta will join forces with existing member cities including Brazzaville, Dubai, Mexico City and Montréal to develop innovative urban policies and solutions that place people and sustainability at the center of the development process, echoing the Urban Solutions launched by the UNESCO Cities Platform on the occasion of the World Cities Day 2021.
The collaborative spirit of the UCCN’s members is reflected in the publication UNESCO Creative Cities’ Response to COVID-19 in 2020. This year, too, the Network is collecting and disseminating information about the culture and creativity-based responses to COVID-19 that have been taken by members of the Network, which UNESCO will publish as part of its continued support to cities’ recovery from the pandemic.
