Created in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) fosters international cooperation across cities of the world that invest in culture and creativity as accelerators of sustainable development. Through seven creative fields – Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music – cities in the Network are innovative and strategic with a large scope of initiatives that have positive economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts.

Together with its almost 300 cities worldwide, the UCCN aims to fulfil the enabling and transformative power of culture and creativity in building cities that are resilient, sustainable and future-proof, thus supporting the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  на официальном сайте ЮНЕСКО (здесь) at the local level. . 

Interested cities are encouraged to submit their applications using the official standard Form by 30 June 2023 (midnight CET).

The 2023 UCCN Call for Applications is open to cities from all UNESCO Member States and Associate Members.

To learn more, you may access the documents on the official UNESCO website and find out what is required and what it entails to become a UNESCO Creative City.

For reference: The UNESCO Creative Cities Network has been operating since 2004. Russia is represented by four cities: Ulyanovsk - UNESCO City of Literature (since 2015), Kazan - UNESCO City of Music, Kargopol - UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art, St. Petersburg - City of Gastronomy. Network members promote urban development strategies through the creative sector, implement projects and programs in the field of designation, collaborate and share their best practices. The joint implementation of initiatives is designed to enhance the positive economic, social and cultural impact on cities.