Jinju (Republic of Korea), a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2019, published its first edition of the International Journal of Crafts and Folk Art.

The Journal aims to promote the objectives of the Network to strengthen cultural diversity and contribute to achieving sustainable urban development by sharing knowledge, experiences and good practices related to crafts and folk art. The Journal is the result of a fruitful collaboration with six other Creative Cities of Crafts and Folk Art, including Barcelos (Portugal), Biella (Italy), Chiang Mai and Sukhothai (Thailand), Paducah (United States of America) and Sharjah (United Arab Emirates).

The first edition covers various topics related to the crafts and folk art sector and encompasses an introduction on cultural heritage, five academic papers, and discussions on arts and cultural activities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It further provides information on new trends in creative urban tourism, as well as on events and activities undertaken by the participating Creative Cities.

While contributing to strengthening international cooperation between cities, the Journal also serves to explore new collaborations and to encourage studies and research on the experience of Creative Cities. Future editions are foreseen to address a wide range of topics related to crafts and folk art and creativity in general.