Italy candidates Modena and Como to UNESCO Creative Cities Network 2021

ROME, JUNE 25 – The Board of Directors of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO has approved the candidacies of Modena and Como for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network 2021.

This year, UNESCO has announced that States may support two candidacies in two different creative sectors among those considered by the initiative.

The Creative Cities Network was launched in 2004 to encourage cooperation between cities that recognize creativity as a strategic factor in economic, social, cultural, and environmental development. There are now 246 Creative Cities in over 80 countries. In Italy, there are currently 11 cities that have been recognized: Biella, Carrara, and Fabriano for crafts; Alba, Bergamo, and Parma for gastronomy; Bologna and Pesaro for music; Rome for cinema; Turin for design; and Milan for literature.

The Commission has confirmed its support of Modena’s candidacy, recognizing the value of the city’s initiatives to promote its culture in the media arts sector, as well as the city’s action plan to help achieve the objectives shared by the Network. The designation of Modena as a creative city for the media arts will allow Italy to be represented in all seven creative sectors.

In addition, the Board of Directors has confirmed Como’s candidacy for crafts and folk art within the textile sector. The city has made significant contributions in the production and processing of silk, a value that is strongly rooted in the history and economy of the city. The Board noted the great attention paid in the application dossier to the themes of the 2030 Agenda, especially in regards to environmental sustainability in the textile sector, as well as the acknowledgement of “fast fashion” and issues of gender equality which remain ever present in a field dominated by women.

Modena and Como must send their dossiers to Paris, along with the official letters of support from the Italian National Commission for UNESCO, by the June 30th deadline. The designation of the creative cities will then be up to the Director-General of UNESCO following an evaluation process that involves the participation of independent experts and cities that are current members of the Network. (@BrittanyBryantF)