Why cities? 

Cities are increasingly playing a vital role in harnessing creativity for economic and social development:

• Cities harbor the entire range of cultural actors throughout the creative industry chain, from the creative act to production and distribution.
• As breeding grounds for creative clusters, cities have great potential to harness creativity, and connecting cities can mobilize this potential for global impact.
• Cities are small enough to affect local cultural industries but also large enough to serve as gateways to international markets.

Nowadays more than half of the world population lives in cities. The concept of ‘Creative Cities’ is based on the belief that culture can play an important role in urban renewal. Policy makers are increasingly taking account of the role of creativity when planning economic policy.

UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network is developing a fundamental concept of ‘Creative Economy’ and ‘Creative Industries’ which the UK Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)define as ‘those industries which have their origin in individual creativity skill and talent and which, have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property’.

As creative industries contribute to a city’s social fabric, cultural diversity and enhance the quality of life, it also strengthens a sense of community and helps define a shared identity.

Related UNESCO programmes:

• International Coalition of Cities Against Racism
• Urban development and social transformations
• Education for sustainable development
  

External links:

• Urban Age (London School of Economics)
• Cities Institute
• Global Cities 
• Intercultural City
• Urbanicity
• United Cities and Local Governments(UCLG)