UNESCO Creative Cities Network Research Articles

Global policy diffusion as a socially constructed process: Insights from UNESCO Creative Cities Network’s shift towards the Global South

This study examines the diffusion of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, focusing on the dynamics of four core diffusion mechanisms and reinterpreting them within a multi-agent framework. This approach enhances understanding of policy diffusion as a socially constructed process, emphasizing the heterogeneous pathways that various agents navigate within a single mechanism. Such variances are vital for grasping the complexities of why policies diffuse or fail, aspects that often escape traditional quantitative methods. In tracing the UNESCO Creative Cities Network’s diffusion from the Global North to South, we highlight UNESCO’s pivotal role in steering diffusion to reflect its evolving priorities; how cities appropriate the UNESCO Creative Cities Network to legitimize their policy goals and actions; the differing capabilities of cities from the Global North and Global South in negotiating and adopting such a global policy; and the tendency of global policies to diffuse among countries that are culturally proximate, as demonstrated by cultural distance index.

UNESCO creative city candidacy: a miltonian analysis

This study analyzes a municipality's application to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), using a documentary analysis grounded in Milton Santos's concepts. Findings highlight the need for professional training in gastronomy to meet global challenges and establish a Management Committee to oversee urban development, assess its performance, and assess the action plan's projects. The study offers insights into the impacts of urban development policies, the standardization of institutional practices, and the effectiveness of UCCN's sustainable development initiatives.

Analisis Penggunaan Batik Secara Efektif Pada Implementasi Produk Lokal

Preserving local culture, especially batik, is an important aspect of sustainable development in Indonesia. This research aims to see how people in Indonesia realize how important it is to preserve batik culture, especially for the community to encourage local products. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method with primary data in the form of observations and interviews and secondary data in the form of literature studies, including books, journals and other internet sources. The research results found that efforts to preserve batik continue, driven by the government's commitment as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Through the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), creative cities like Pekalongan can become models of sustainable development by combining aspects of creativity, arts education and cultural heritage preservation. In this way, local culture is not only a national identity, but also an instrument for achieving overall sustainable development goals.

IDENTIFIKASI KARAKTERISTIK RUANG KREATIF DALAM MENDUKUNG KOTA KREATIF: STUDI KASUS KOTA BANDUNG

Bandung City exemplifies this as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. While the government establishes creative spaces like the Bandung Creative Hub, organic community-driven spaces also thrive. Each space possesses unique characteristics, but ideal creative spaces should meet criteria related to institutional support, flexible regulations, and diverse human resources. This mixed-methods study aims to identify the characteristics of Bandung's creative spaces based on institutional, regulatory, and human resource aspects. Qualitative data from interviews will be quantitatively assessed to compare with ideal criteria. Understanding these characteristics can inform urban planning and policy for fostering creative economies. Furthermore, creative space is also believed that it can foster creativity, innovation, and knowledge-based economic growth.

An Evaluation of Savat Handicraft in Van in the Context of the Crafts and Folk Arts Theme of UNESCO Creative Cities Network

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Van’ın geleneksel el sanatlarından birisi olan Savat işçiliğinin Birleşmiş Milletler Eğitim, Bilim ve Kültür Kurumu (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation [UNESCO]) Yaratıcı Şehirler Ağı Programı’na Zanaat ve Halk Sanatları teması altında katılma durumunu tespit etmektir. Ayrıca, Savat işçiliğinin mevcut durumunu, yaşanılan problemleri, kamu ve özel sektöre ne gibi sorumluluklar düştüğünü belirleyerek birtakım öneriler getirebilmek amaçlanmaktadır. Nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden fenomenoloji (olgubilim) kullanıldığı bu araştırmada, amaçlı örnekleme yöntemlerinden maksimum çeşitlilik örneklemesi tercih edilmiştir. Bu kapsamda araştırmanın evreni Van İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü, Van’da yaşayan profesyonel turist rehberleri, Van’da faaliyet gösteren seyahat acenteleri ve Van’da yaşayan Savat ustaları ile Van’da görev yapan akademisyenlerden oluşmaktadır. Araştırma soruları ilgili literatürün taranmasıyla oluşturulmuş ve veriler yarı yapılandırılmış mülakat formuyla elde edilmiştir. Verilerin analizi süresi boyunca, alınan cevaplar ayıklanmış, ardından betimsel analize tabi tutulmuştur. Araştırmada elde edilen bulgulara göre hammaddenin pahalı olması, ilgisizlik, tanıtım faaliyetlerinin yapılamaması, sivil toplum kuruluşlarına ihtiyaç duyulması, eğitim yönünden yetersizlikler, ürünlerin tek düze olarak yapılması, yurtiçi pazarlar olarak Türkiye’nin Batı bölgeleri, yurtdışı hedef Pazar olarka ise Rusya, Kafkasya, Avrupa ülkeleri olduğu ve UNESCO Yaratıcı Şehirler Ağına Van’ın girmesi durumunda, şehirde geceleme sayısının artacağı, Van’ın daha bilinir hale geleceğini ve yerel halkın yabancı dil öğrenmeye başlayacağı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

The use of intangible heritage and creative industries as a tourism asset in the UNESCO creative cities network

The creative economy has been recognized as key in urban development and planning, which the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) consolidates. While benefiting from the label, the tourism sector also plays a fundamental role in the creative strategy. This paper explores how intangible heritage and creative industries can work as a tourism asset for creative cities and thus participate in their development. An NVivo thematic content analysis of all the tourism-related actions listed in the UCCN reports was performed to identify what types of cultural tourism products and actions are linked to the creative cities and to understand how they relate to their UNESCO creative fields to detect gaps and potentials. Tourism activity represents 17% of the total actions listed in the creative cities’ reports, mostly concentrated in the Crafts & Folk Art field. The empirical results highlight tendencies that can be applied and adapted to future destinations with intangible assets on their territory and that want to work with the creative industries. Thus, this paper unveils an underexplored potential of synergies between two important economic and creative activities.

Natural Resources as an Asset of City Diplomacy: a Portrait of Jingdezhen and Its White Gold

Abstract This article demonstrates how natural resources can be an asset for countries’ international influence while advancing national interests specially related to cultural economy. It focuses on Jingdezhen, the Chinese porcelain capital, a creative city in unesco Creative Cities Network, which has succeeded in extolling Chinese culture by converting its “white gold” into soft power by way of effective city diplomacy.

Istanbul as a "City of Design"

Istanbul as a "City of Design"

The Role of Creative Placemaking

The Role of Creative Placemaking

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CREATIVE ECONOMY IN SAUDI ARABIA: SUSTAINING COFFEE AS A CULINARY DESTINATION IN BURAIDAH

Ideas and community synergy are required in maintaining a creative economy in strengthening not only the local economy but likewise being a role in its development of coffee productivity, profitability and quality growth in the Middle East's coffee value chain to the global level. Visiting the development of specialty coffee in Saudi Arabia in recent years has made it one of the options for the creative economy built on community development in local tourism growth. Critically in Buraidah as one of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of gastronomy, specialty coffee is entirely resonant with its synergies around the coffee value chain in Saudi Arabia, making it one of the proponents of the local creative economy. This paper is a qualitative descriptive through the literature, observations, site visits and interviews, which were analysed, concluded that the creative economy through coffee in Buraidah has developed more profoundly in strengthening the sustainable economy as a culinary destination in the region. All actors from the coffee value chain in the region are anticipated to be able to sustain its development for a better future generation.

Crafts and Folk Art Tourism Development in Chiang Mai Towards UNESCO Creative Cities Network Membership

The purposes of research were 1) to survey resources and to create a location map of crafts and folk art communities in Chiang Mai Province; 2) to assess tourism potential and readiness of community capital as creative tourist attractions in Chiang Mai Province; 3) to propose the guidelines for the model craft community development in Chiang Mai towards UNESCO creative cities network membership for supporting creative tourism; and 4) to propose the guidelines for the development of community and network management towards UNESCO creative cities network membership for supporting creative tourism. This research was a mixed method study by using the qualitative study method for collecting the data from interview, focused group, and participatory and non-participatory observation; and the quantitative method for collecting the data from a questionnaire according to the study objectives. The study results are presented in a descriptive form and are summarized as follows.
 
 1) Survey on resources and creation of a location map of crafts and folk art communities in Chiang Mai Province: The distinctive resources in crafts and local art of each community are classified into 7 categories: 1) pottery and casting work, 2) fabric and embroidery, 3) wood carving and products, 4) basketry, 5 paperwork, 6) metal embossment, and 7) lacquerware. The locations of the craft communities in Chiang Mai are in 3 areas: 1) location in Chiang Mai City (inner area of the city wall), 2) location near Chiang Mai City (outer area of the city wall), and location far from Chiang Mai City (outer area of Mueang District). 
 
 2) Assessment on tourism potential and readiness of community capital for being creative tourist attractions in Chiang Mai Province: The overall result of all 4 aspects in tourism potential and readiness of community capital as creative tourist attractions in Chiang Mai Province was found at the high level (x  = 3.69). In each aspect, the highest mean was in management (x  = 3.79), followed by cultural identity (x  = 3.78), creative entrepreneurs (x  = 3.62), and space and facility (x  = 3.56) respectively. 
 
 3) Proposed guidelines for the model craft community development in Chiang Mai Province towards UNESCO creative cities network membership for supporting creative tourism: The guidelines for the model craft community development towards UNESCO creative cities network membership for supporting creative tourism consist of 4 factors. 
 
 4) Proposed guidelines for the development of community and network management towards UNESCO creative cities network membership for supporting creative tourism: The model for the development of community and network management towards UNESCO creative cities network membership for supporting creative tourism is known as “POLC of CM CREATION Model”.

Evaluatıon of the Gastronomic Products of Gaziantep Province in Terms of Geographical Indication Which is Included in the Unesco Gastronomy Cities Network

The UNESCO” Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity" was established in 2004. This network covers seven different themes, one of which is gastronomy. The purpose of the network is to ensure the development of international cooperation, the preservation and promotion of local cuisines, to ensure sustainable development. Thus, economic and cultural development will take place. The Geographical Indication has the property of being used as a tool in rural development. Geographical signs contribute to the national economy by protecting both the producer and the consumer, as well as ensuring the transfer of cultural values between generations without decaying. Gaziantep Province is the first city in our country to enter the Unesco creative gastronomy cities network. After Gaziantep joined the network, awareness was raised and there was a rapid increase in the number of geographically marked products. In this study, the gastronomic products of Gaziantep province with geographical indications were examined. In the study, it was aimed to determine the effect of the inclusion of Gaziantep Province in the UNESCO creative gastronomy cities network on the geographical indication registration of gastronomic products. In the research, the document scanning technique, one of the qualitative research methods, was used, the keywords were determined and the literature on the subject was scanned and the obtained data were presented in the study. It is one of the striking results of the research that the number of geographically indicated gastronomic products has increased rapidly with the inclusion of Gaziantep province in the UNESCO creative cities network, and this number has increased to 67 by 2022. After Gaziantep was included in the network, awareness was created and there was a rapid increase in the number of geographically indicated products. Thus, the purpose of the Unesco creative gastronomic cities network was realized and contributed to the promotion and preservation of local cuisine.

DEVELOPING GASTRONOMIC RESOURCES: PRACTICES OF UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES OF GASTRONOMY

The category of Cities of Gastronomy has been an integral part of UNESCO Creative Cities Network due to the importance of gastronomic experiences. Against this backdrop, this research aimed to synthesize the gastronomic practices among these member cities and develop a framework based on the synthesis for cities with long-standing gastronomic identities to incorporate gastronomic resources into their long-term planning for gastronomy tourism development. This research adopted thematic analysis to analyze 17 monitoring reports that were submitted by Cities of Gastronomy. The findings identified four key dimensions (infrastructure, attraction, organization, and education) encapsulating 13 sub-dimensions of developing gastronomic resources among these member cities.

Spatiotemporal ecological quality assessment of metropolitan cities: a case study of central Iran.

The present study used the recently developed Remote Sensing-Based Ecological Index (RSEI) to assess the temporal-spatial variation of ecological quality in the metropolitan city of Isfahan (Iran) as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. This study was conducted from the Landsat TM/OLI satellite images of 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019. The RSEI was synthesized by principal component analysis for four indices of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Land Surface Temperature (LST), Land Surface Moisture (LSM) and Normalized Differential Build-up, and Bare Soil Index (NDBSI) based on the framework of the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) in the aforementioned years. The ecological quality of the city was assessed by RSEI over a 15-year period. The index has a value range of 0 (completely poor ecological quality) to 1 (completely desirable). In addition, the spatial heterogeneity of RSEIs at different intervals was assessed by the Moran index. The results showed that the RSEI value was always less than 0.4, which indicated the unfavourable ecological quality of the city. This index was 0.34, 0.37, 0.26 and 0.30 in 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019, respectively. Therefore, the ecological quality of the city did not have a constant trend during the studied period and had several fluctuations, which could be attributed to the natural and anthropogenic changes in the studied period. Additionally, the results of the Moran index showed a steady decline, which indicated a declining homogeneity during this period. Matching the calculated RSEIs with the realities of the region at each time interval suggested that the index could be a useful tool for assessing urban ecological quality.

Systematic Literature Review: Mapping George Town as a UNESCO Creative City

UNESCO Creative Cities Network (hereafter UCCN) was established in 2004. The purpose of UCCN establishment is generally to facilitate the spread of cultural groups around the world; that include to exchange technical knowledge, experience, successful examples and to stimulate local economy and social development with the help of creative industries. UCCN covers seven creative categories that include crafts and folk art, creative fields, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts as well as music. UNESCO George Town Cultural World Heritage Site, Penang, Malaysia (hereafter UNESCO George Town) was successfully listed as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site in 2008. Undoubtedly, the prestigious inscription has elevated UNESCO George Town’s status and popularity, both domestically and internationally. Unfortunately, although the concept of UCCN is gaining credence from other region and countries, there is still a dearth of research in Malaysia on the nascent topic of UCCN. Thus, this paper aims to fill this research gap. The objectives of this paper are two-fold: (1) To critically analysing the potentials of UNESCO George Town, if at all, to be part of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN); and (2) To develop knowledge of systematic literature review (SLR) searching process with special reference to UNESCO George Town and UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The findings of this paper revealed that there is a potential of UNESCO George Town to be branded as City of Gastronomy. The findings from this paper will perhaps benefit the key stakeholders and further elevate the status of UNESCO George Town, Penang, Malaysia.

From cultural diversity to creative city: theoretical logic and practical exploration of the gourmet city

<p>The construction of creative cities is an important choice for the current urban transformation and development. Taking the “city of gastronomy” of UNESCO creative cities network as the research object, this paper analyzes the impact of cultural diversity on creative cities. Based on the theoretical connotation of creative cities and the logical analysis of the relationship between cultural and creative industries and creative cities, this paper puts forward the theoretical basis for the construction of “food city”, and constructs the urban food creative system from four aspects: urban food culture, creative community, environment and atmosphere, investment and financing, and intellectual property protection. On this basis, combined with the group characteristics of the “food city” and the case of Yangzhou, this paper analyzes the practical process and key issues of creating the “food city”, and summarizes the experience and Enlightenment from the “food city” to the creative city.</p>

Cities are on the Stage! Evaluation of Turkey in terms of UNESCO Creative Cities Network- Film Field

UNESCO Yaratıcı Şehirler Ağı (UNESCO Creative Cities Network-UCCN), 2004 yılında UNESCO tarafından, yaratıcılığı kentsel gelişme sürecinde önemli bir faktör olarak gören şehirlerarasındaki işbirliğini artırmak için gerçekleştirilen proje sonucunda kurulmuştur. Projenin ana amacı, küreselleşmenin etkisi ile ortaya çıkan kültürün homojenize olması ve metalaşması tehditlerine karşı kültür ve yaratıcılığın gelişimini teşvik etmektir. Ayrıca, işbirliği ağı aracılığıyla şehirlerin uluslararası düzeyde tanıtımına ve gelişimine katkı sağlamayı, hem küresel, hem ulusal hem de yerel düzeyde sürdürülebilir kalkınmayı desteklemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Kısaca, UCCN ile kültürel çeşitliliğin artırılması, sürdürülebilir kalkınmanın teşvik edilmesi hedeflenmekte ve küresel bir platformda şehirlerin uluslararası düzeyde görünürlüğü ve tanıtımı desteklenmektedir. UCCN kapsamında, edebiyat, film, müzik, zanaat ve halk sanatları, tasarım, gastronomi ve medya sanatları olmak üzere yedi farklı yaratıcı alan yer almaktadır. Dünya genelinde 70’i aşkın ülkeden 246 şehir UCCN’ye kayıtlıdır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye’de bazı şehirlerin film alanı üzerinden UCCN’ye katılım potansiyelinin incelenmesini amaçlamaktadır. Nitel araştırma yöntemleriyle gerçekleştirilen çalışmada, ikincil veriler betimsel analiz aracılığıyla değerlendirilmektedir. Çalışmada öncelikle UCCN ve özellikle dünya genelinde film alanı üzerinden UCCN’ye dâhil olan şehirler hakkında bilgi verilmektedir. Ardından, Türkiye’de film turizmi konusunda öne çıkan destinasyonlar UCCN film alanı kriterleri üzerinden değerlendirilmekte ve yaratıcı şehirler ağına girme potansiyelleri incelenmektedir. Çalışma sonucunda UNESCO tarafından belirlenen kriterlere uygunluğu nedeniyle Antalya, İzmir ve Muğla’nın UCCN’ye film alanı üzerinden dâhil olma potansiyelinin yüksek olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Çalışma, sürdürülebilir turizm anlayışını benimsemiş destinasyonlarda yaratıcılığın bir strateji olarak uygulanabilirliğine ilişkin bulgular sunması açısından önem taşımaktadır. Böylelikle kitle turizminin turizmin ekonomik kazanımlarını önde tutan ve turist odaklı yaklaşımın yerine, turizmin sosyo-kültürel etkilerini de gözeten ve yerel halkın ve toplulukların öncelikli olduğu sürdürülebilir turizm anlayışına geçiş sürecine de destek olabilecektir. Çalışma aynı zamanda UCCN film turizmi ilişkisini irdeleyerek alan yazının gelişimine de katkı sağlamaktadır.

MELACAK AKAR KREATIVITAS DI KOTA BANDUNG MASA KOLONIAL

<p class="Abstract">In 2007 Bandung was designated as a pilot project for the creative cities of Asia Pacific, and in 2015 Bandung was included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. It is related to the development of the city of Bandung and the creativity of the population. Its creativity is formed through a process. This article traces the roots of this creativity since the beginning of its formation in the early 19th century to become the city of Bandung in the early 20th century. The method used is the historical method supported by creative cities’ and voluntary organization’s concepts. Primary sources were official government archives, tourist guidebooks, magazines, and newspapers. The result shows that the roots of the creativity of the Bandung population have been formed since the colonial period, both individually and in groups. Through the synergy between the community and leaders in the city of Bandung, they are incorporated into organizations whose initial goals are for the welfare of the people of Bandung, then develop introducing the city of Bandung for people from outside Bandung in tourism activities. They prepared several infrastructure facilities and built tourism objects for both citizens and tourists.</p>

글로벌 발전의제와 로컬 문화정책 - 지속가능발전목표(SDGs)를 위한 유네스코창의도시네트워크(UCCN)의 도전

유엔이 2030년을 향한 지구촌 발전의제로 지속가능발전목표(SDGs)를 채택하면서 주목한 영역은 도시화와 문화이다. 도시가 지속가능발전의 공간 주체라면 문화는 그 핵심 요건의 하나다. 이러한 배경에서 본 논문은 최근 초대형 초국가 도시협의체로 성장한 유네스코창의도시네트워크(UCCN)를 통해 한편으로 글로벌 발전의제와 도시 문화정책의 상관관계에 관한 국제사회의 논의와 의제의 변화를 총체적으로 이해하고, 한편으로 SDGs를 추동할 핵심 조직으로서 UCCN의 역할과 도전을 조망하고자 한다. 이를 위해 먼저 유엔이 안배한 도시와 문화 영역의 두 의제, 즉 유엔해비타트의 「새로운 도시의제」와 유네스코의 문화의제인 「문화정책의 재구성」을 탐구하고 도시문화정책에 주는 함의를 도출한다. 다음으로 지속가능한 도시발전의 견인차로서 UCCN의 활동 현황과 도전 과제를 SDGs의 측면에서 고찰한다. 이를 통해 점차 심화되어 가는 글로벌 발전의제와 로컬 문화정책의 상호작용에 대한 총체적 이해를 도모하고, 유네스코창의도시의 매개역량 강화를 모색하는 데 기여할 것으로 기대한다.

CIDADES CRIATIVAS DA UNESCO NO BRASIL

Este artigo propõe uma análise exploratória acerca das ações do poder público das cidades brasileiras que compõem a rede UNESCO de Cidades Criativas, na elaboração de ações para auxílio e fomento da economia da cultura durante o isolamento social provocado pela crise sanitária mundial no período da pandemia de corona vírus. Primeiramente, realiza-se a contextualização teórica, discutindo os conceitos de Cidades Criativas e economia da Cultura, apresentando a composição teórica que sustenta o percurso desenvolvido, em seguida analisam-se os dados levantados sobre as cidades brasileiras que compõem a rede, a partir da extração de informações contidas nos endereços eletrônicos das plataformas institucionais das cidades observadas. Por fim, apontam-se considerações que relatam as ações promovidas pelas cidades, retratando diferentes comportamentos do poder público e alguns aspectos que demonstram atuações com baixo impacto no alcance do fomento da economia da cultura durante as dinâmicas transformações do mercado provocadas pelo isolamento social, mas que também refletem a necessidade de uma melhor estrutura de distribuição de recursos e alcance das estratégias de fomento mesmo em condições normais. Este artigo compõe o desenvolvimento de trabalhos interdisciplinares oriundos do programa de mestrado interdisciplinar de Desenvolvimento, Tecnologias e Sociedade da Universidade Federal de Itajubá.