What makes the UNESCO Creative Cities Network different from other networks is that it is based on a way of perceiving cities.

A city is an urban area of a size that holds meaning in the international context and within the context of the characteristics of the local regional culture, or of a size that can fully manifest the region’s potential. UNESCO built this network from a perception of cities as clusters that exhibit a diversity of creativity. The Creative Cities Network is also an experiment in connecting with other existing networks, involving both public and private sectors to raise the general public’s appreciation for, and understanding of, creative communities. UNESCO envisions organizing sub-networks to increase our diversity. In this respect, the concept of “synergy-of-synergies”, meaning the rich diversity of cities, is very important, and is the essence of this network. However, the Creative Cities Network is still at the experimental stage and faces many issues.  More member cities would mean each would have to work to maintain awareness of participation in the network.

And we would also need to preserve the balance among those cities. In the future, UNESCO expects to develop the network by continually improving the latent cultural power of local regions, while conserving diversity through cross-disciplinary cooperation.

UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network
The Creative Cities Network is certified by UNESCO, an organization that emphasizes the conservation of cultural diversity. This program, initiated in 2004, promotes international partnerships and reciprocal exchanges between cities throughout the world that seek invigoration through the development and strengthening of creative and cultural industries. The program began with design and consists of seven fields, including craft and folk art, film, gastronomy, literature, music, and media arts. Nagoya’s participation in the design category was declared in October 2008. 

Creative Design City Nagoya Organizing Committee
Constituent organizations: City of Nagoya, International Design Center NAGOYA Inc., Nagoya Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Council of Chubu Design Organizations

Creative Design City Nagoya logo

 *Please visit Creative Cities Network official website for other abstracts of speech and presentation.