UNESCO Creative Cities to be reunited in Santos for the XIV Annual Conference
From 18 to 22 July 2022, UNESCO, in collaboration with Santos (Brazil), a Creative City of Film, will be holding the XIV UCCN Annual Conference. After a two-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delegates from member cities will be invited to meet again in person on the occasion of the most important event of the Network.
Hosted for the first time in Latin America, the Conference will offer a unique occasion to strengthen the ties between cities from around the world and will serve as a platform to reflect on the strategic objectives of the Network, in line with UNESCO’s priorities, and in the global context of the post COVID-19 recovery.
Under the theme “Creativity, path to equality”, this year’s Conference will focus on the role of culture and creativity in reducing social and economic inequalities, as well as in the revitalization of urban spaces, notably for marginalized urban groups.
The official kick-off of the Conference will be a collective clean-up of the famous Gonzaga beach, to emphasize the importance of building sustainable and environmentally friendly urban environments. This awareness-raising event will invite Mayors and delegates to take concrete action towards making a positive impact on the local ecosystem, but also to call on cities worldwide to act for environmental resilience.
During the course of the 5-day Conference, participants will have the opportunity to exchange and work with one another through different types of activities, ranging from plenary sessions to cluster meetings. There will also be a special Integration Session for the new members, offering an excellent opportunity to obtain a general understanding of the Network, as well as to interact with other member cities and stakeholders to exchange ideas and explore collaborative potential. Special attention will be given to a series of Transversal Thematic Panels around 6 themes, in line with UNESCO’s global priorities: supporting Africa and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), advancing gender equality, empowering youth, strengthening climate action, fostering post-pandemic recovery, promoting technologies and innovation, and reinforcing international cooperation through culture and creative initiatives.
The Annual Conference will also feature the Mayors Forum, a primary platform for Mayors of the Creative Cities to showcase and share their cities’ vision as well as local policies, actions and good practices with their counterparts, city delegates and other relevant stakeholders. This year, the Public Session will allow mayors to enrich Creative Cities’ common reflection and convey a strong message about the role of culture and creativity in building sustainable and inclusive cities. The Private Session will provide participating mayors with an exclusive platform to exchange with UNESCO representatives on harnessing the full potential of culture and creativity to address urban challenges and opportunities.
In parallel to the Conference, an additional cultural programme including exhibitions, film screenings, culinary shows, master classes, encounters with writers and film directors, will be also organized in the Creative Pavilions by the Host City of Santos. Focused on the 7 creative fields of the Network, these Pavilions will be open to all Conference participants and the general public, to foster the access to and participation in cultural activities.
For more information on the Annual Conference, you can visit the Host City’s website with the following link:
