2025 was a significant milestone for Adelaide, marking the 10th anniversary of our prestigious UNESCO City of Music designation.
As the UNESCO Creative Cities Network’s official contact in South Australia, the Adelaide City of Music office worked to shine a light on this special occasion and to celebrate the state’s diverse and dynamic music community and its year-round calendar of events, festivals, and success stories.
With a launch and civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Adelaide in January, a collaboration with the Adelaide Fringe Honey Pot Program in February, and Adelaide providing the music for the International Jazz Day Relay in April, the year got off to a great start.
Thanks to the City of Adelaide, we unveiled a special anniversary logo alongside a series of events, workshops, and opportunities to help celebrate our wonderful city of music throughout the year.
The City of Adelaide continued to show its strong support for the designation, celebrating the anniversary throughout the year by launching a new City of Music webpage, a new music venue map, and City of Music window vinyl. The city held Music in the Square events, exhibitions of memorabilia from the SA Hall of Fame and artwork by Electric Field’s Zaachariaha Fielding. The City of Adelaide also launched The Angels Lane, an extension of its City of Music Laneways trail, and provided grants in support of community events and cultural initiatives.
Reinforcing its ongoing commitment, the City of Adelaide launched a new cultural policy and initiated a live music review to enhance live music and music culture in the city.
A big year at the state level with a new cultural policy, the formation of Create SA, the development of a new music industry strategy, and the release of the findings from the Standing Committee on live music and arts venues in the state. The state government also showed its ongoing commitment through funding artists, music businesses and organisations, and events. A strong supporter throughout the year, the Music Development Office provided funding and support for the year-long campaign.
ACOM initiatives included supporting First Nations artists to attend the International Indigenous Music Summit in Toronto and hosting visiting representatives from the Summit in Adelaide. ACOM facilitated Adelaide artists’ showcase at Spain’s Primavera Pro festival, and inclusion in an artists’ residency in Mexico. We welcomed visiting artists from Pesaro and Hannover, and provided exciting new introductions to Tallinn, New Orleans, Glasgow, Montreux, and Daegu.
ACOM held community engagement events and facilitated workshops, including an AI discussion with an Amsterdam-based production company and potential touring opportunities and resources in Texas.
We supported local community and arts organisations, including the Adelaide Jazz Festival, the Latin Arts Community Support Network, CH44’s 10×10 Festival, Three D Radio’s Sonic Spire, the Primary Schools Music Festival, and the Mercury’s SASA Awards.
A highlight, ACOM presented its annual Best International Collaboration award at Music SA’s SA Music Awards, and thanks to support from the Music Development Office, facilitated a special, 10th Anniversary Prize, awarded by the Minister for Arts.
An active member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, ACMO engaged internationally through the music cluster of cities, providing input into UNESCO’s annual conference and its Mondiacult Summit, which set the international organisation’s agenda and priorities. ACOM also continued to work with Asia Pacific cities in the development of an Asia Pacific strategy.
A wonderful year-long celebration, ACOM would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in making our city and truly international city of music. The individuals, organisations, and businesses who get up every day and contribute to the diversity and richness of our music culture. ACOM would also like to specifically thank its funding partners, the State Government of South Australia via the Music Development Office, the City of Adelaide, and the Adelaide Festival Centre, for their ongoing support and commitment.
As we look ahead to the next decade, ACOM is committed to helping navigate the ever-changing music landscape, continuing to raise the profile of Adelaide’s music scene both at home and abroad, while strengthening the value of our UNESCO designation, and through it our membership of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for the state’s music community.
The UNESCO City of Music designation is owned by everyone in South Australia. It is a reflection of our long-term and ongoing love and enjoyment of music culture, and the fundamental role it plays in our lives.
Adelaide City of Music Ltd is excited about the future and eager to celebrate South Australia’s dynamic music community.