UNESCO Creative City
Korea's representative craft and folk art field
UNESCO Creative City
Creative City Promotional Video
This video was produced to promote Icheon City's outstanding cultural assets internally and externally, combining the production process of ceramic masters and craftsmen with a panoramic view of Ye`s Park, the ceramic special zone village..
What is a Creative City?
- A creative city cultivates its own distinctive character based on its unique cultural assets and characteristics, using them as a driving force to contribute to the city's economy and employment, and creating synergies through exchanges and collaboration between related industries.
- A creative city focuses on enhancing its image through cultural activities that promote cultural enjoyment opportunities for its citizens.
- A creative city strives to create an environment where residents can express their creative capabilities by focusing on the cultivation of creative human resources as engines of the city's sustainable development.
Creativity
+Culture
=Sustainable
Development
What is the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)?
UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) Mission and Goals
To strengthen cooperation among cities that use creativity as a sustainable development strategy.
Creative Cities Network Objectives
- Strengthen international cooperation among creative cities
- Develop programs that include creativity as an integral part of urban development
- Strengthen the production and distribution of cultural activities, cultural products, and cultural services
- Expand opportunities for cultural professionals and cultural creators
- Increase access to and participation in cultural life for individuals and vulnerable groups
- Integrate culture and creativity into local sustainable development
Overview of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) Member Cities
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network has seven categories: craft and folk arts, literature, film, music, design, media arts, and food. Applicant cities can choose one of these categories based on their cultural characteristics, environment, and preferences. As of 2022, there are 295 cities in 93 countries participating in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
Total number of cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network
(as of 2022)
| Total | Crafts | Design | Literature | Media | Film | Food | Music |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 295 | 59 | 43 | 42 | 22 | 21 | 49 | 59 |
Icheon, a UNESCO Creative City
Icheon City specializes in ceramics as it has a large population of ceramic artists and those involved in related industries. Also, it has a well-established ceramic infrastructure, including educational institutions and corresponding researchers. In July 2010, Icheon City was designated as Korea's first UNESCO Creative City for Crafts and Folk Art, in recognition of its well-established operation of festivals, such as the International Ceramic Biennale and the Ceramics Festival, as well as its dedicated organization for professional ceramic work. By joining the UNESCO Creative Cities network, our city is promoting Korean traditional craft (pottery) culture around the world, while also contributing to cultural sharing with other cities around the world, and promoting global cultural diversity.
On June 12, 2018, Icheon City was elected as the first chair city for 'Crafts and Folk Art' among Korean creative cities at the annual meeting of the subnetwork held in Krakow, Poland. It served as the chair city until September 2021, discussing activities in the field of crafts and working to expand the network among other creative cities. It is continuing to explore exchange projects among creative cities.
