UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES NETWORK – MUSIC CLUSTER ANNUAL MEETING, LONDON, CANADA.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is dynamic and thriving; expanding annually to include new cities representing seven distinct creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music. 55 new cities joined the UCCN on World Cities Day in October 2023 – with these latest additions, the Network has expanded to include 350 cities across over one hundred countries. Fellow Music cities now include: Banja Luka, Bissau, Bolzano, Bydgoszcz, Caracas, Concepción, Da Lat, Gwalior, Ipoh, Mexicali, Montreux, Şanlıurfa, Suphanburi, Toulouse, Varaždin and Veliky Novgorod.
Adelaide City of Music (ACOM) is proudly part of the Music subnetwork, having a mutual interest in using music and culture as catalysts for urban development and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ACOM Office also advocates the value of music to enrich lives, celebrate diversity and improve wellbeing and promote cultural diplomacy, promotes South Australian music globally, and connects musicians, music organisations and the music sector locally, through the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
Cory Crossman, the focal point from London Canada welcomes attendees to the 2024 cluster meeting. Photo: Brett Gundlock,Tandem Photo Company.
The recent UCCN Music subnetwork meeting took place in London, Canada, earlier this month, drawing music cities from around the globe to partake in a dynamic showcase of creativity and innovation. Organised by City of Music London’s General Manager, Cory Crossman and his team, the event featured insightful presentations from various urban centres and collaborative ventures, offering participants a deep dive into local music, culture, and dance. London’s industrial allure and vibrant nightlife provided a distinctive setting for the conference.
Although unable to attend, ACOM participated in planning discussions and helped shape the agenda. UCCN provides many opportunities for Adelaide to benefit from the exchange of best practices, collaborative initiatives, and knowledge dissemination fostered by gatherings such as these. Looking ahead, the next Music cluster assembly is slated for April 2025 in Pesaro, Italy and UCCN’s Annual Meeting is set for July in Braga, Portugal. ACOM eagerly anticipates participating in person and engaging in these important meetings of music advocates.
Local musicians, Fiker, The Pairs and Jordan MacDonald take the stage at Words & Music at London’s Wolf Performance Hall. Photo: Brett Gundlock,Tandem Photo Company.
Attendees enjoy lunch at London’s Che Restobar. Photo: Brett Gundlock, Tandem Photo Company.
Dancers from the Eagle Flight Singers pose with attendees, Bukeka Blakemore (Creative City KC, Kansas City, USA), Eugene Blakemore (Silly Money Records, Kansas City, USA), Vinesh Seeparsad (Focal Point, Port Louis, Mauritius), Inkie Kim (Focal Point, Daegu, South Korea) Photo: Brett Gundlock, Tandem Photo Company.