Recognizing the importance of Art in nurturing innovation and cultural diversity, UNESCO’s General Conference at its 40th session in 2019, proclaimed 15 April as World Art Day. To celebrate this significant day, Llíria (Spain), a UNESCO Creative City of Music, launched an innovative initiative titled “17 SDGs, 17 VISIONS”.

Combining creativity and visual arts, the initiative aims to depict the 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through an artistic vision. As part of the initiative, Llíria in close cooperation with Bilbao (Spain), Viborg (Denmark) and Havana (Cuba), UNESCO Creative Cities of Design, Media Arts and Music respectively, invited 17 artists to express their vision of each of the 17 Goals using the pictorial technique of their choice.

The outcomes of these pictorial representations have been presented through a dedicated exhibition set up in Ca la Vila, that also hosts the Llíria Town Hall. A virtual exhibition showcasing all the paintings has also been launched on the city’s social media platforms and further disseminated by participating creative cities.

Through “17 SDGs, 17 VISIONS” and in line with the Network’s mission and objectives, Llíria affirms its commitment to recognizing and mobilizing culture as a vehicle for local development. It further reiterates the importance of culture as an enabler for invigorating international cooperation, awareness raising about sustainable urban development and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.