You’re probably familiar with UNESCO as the part of the United Nations that establishes World Heritage Sites, giving landmarks with cultural and natural heritage legal protection under an international treaty.
You’re probably less familiar with its Creative Cities Network, which recognises cultural hubs for their work in “championing creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development”. UNESCO has just added 58 new cities to its network, which now comprises 408 cities across more than 100 countries, including several cities within Asia.
Among the Asian cities added is Dumaguete City, Philippines, as a City of Literature. Dumaguete has produced several literary award winners and is the home to two of its National Artists. It is the home of the Silliman University National Writers Workshop, the longest-running writers' workshop in Asia, and the Silliman University Library, which houses around 100,000 literary works. The city also has an annual literary festival.
Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City was also honoured as a City of Film, the first in Southeast Asia. The city is a cinematic cultural hub for the country, holding international film festivals and events, and it continues to support filmmakers in the city with creative spaces, facilities, cultural centres, and startup centres.
Another notable addition was Songkhla, Thailand, as a City of Gastronomy. The city is known for its unique culinary culture, drawing on influences from Thai, Chinese, Malay, and Persian cuisines. Its location between the Songkhla Lake and the Gulf of Thailand produces a wealth of diverse local ingredients.
These are all the Asian cities added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network:
- Cheongju City, South Korea – Crafts and Folk Art
- Dumaguete City, Philippines – Literature
- Echizen City, Japan – Crafts and Folk Art
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Film
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Design
- Lalitpur, Nepal – Music
- Lucknow, India – Gastronomy
- Malang, Indonesia – Media Arts
- Nan, Thailand – Crafts and Folk Art
- Ponorogo, Indonesia – Crafts and Folk Art
- Quanzhou, China – Gastronomy
- Quezon City, Philippines – Film
- Songkhla, Thailand – Gastronomy
- Wuxi, China – Music
See the full list of new UNESCO Creative Cities here.
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