Paris, 11 December 2015 - Isfahan and Rasht are designated as new members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. The two cities are among the 47 cities joining the network this year. Isfahan is registered because of its creative ‘Crafts and Folk Art’ and Rasht because of its unique ‘Gastronomy.’  

By joining the Network, cities commit to collaborate and develop partnerships with a view to promoting creativity and cultural industries, to share best practices, to strengthen participation in cultural life, and to integrate culture in economic and social development strategies and plans.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network has seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music.  Launched in 2004, the Network now comprises 116 cities worldwide. It aims to foster international cooperation with and between cities committed to investing in creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development, social inclusion and cultural vibrancy.

“The UNESCO Creative Cities Network represents an immense potential to assert the role of culture as enabler of sustainable development. I would like to recognize the many new cities and their countries that are enriching the Network with their diversity” declared the Director-General, as UNESCO celebrates in 2015 the 10th anniversary of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the international community in September 2015 highlights culture and creativity as key levers for sustainable urban development. The Network serves as an essential platform to contribute to the implementation and achievement of this international agenda.   

The next meeting of the Creative Cities Network is scheduled for September 2016 in Östersund (Sweden).