There are 7 cities from Turkey in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Three of these cities were listed in gastronomy, two in craft and folk arts, one in design and one in music.
“Intangible Cultural Heritage Asset”, “World Memory Register”, “World Heritage Tentative List”… Turkey, with its deep-rooted history, cultural richness and natural beauties, is included in the lists of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Institution) in many fields. One of the lists that Turkey is included in UNESCO is the “Creative Cities Network”.
UNESCO Creative Cities Network was established in 2004 with the participation of 116 cities from different countries of the world. Its aim is to bring together cities with different income levels, capacities and populations from various regions to work in the field of creative industries.
Creative Cities Network aims to contribute to the social, economic and cultural development of cities. Cities that are members of this network act to support UNESCO’s cultural diversity by increasing their local creativity, publicity and visibility.
Participation in the Creative Cities Network is made in the fields of handicrafts and folk art, design, cinema, gastronomy, literature, music and visual arts.
Currently, 7 cities in Turkey are included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Here are these cities and the areas they qualify for.
Pioneer of Creative Cities Network: Gaziantep
Gaziantep, the first city from Turkey to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, entered this list in 2015 in the field of gastronomy. Gaziantep, which has hosted many cultures since the past, has gained worldwide fame with its rich cuisine.
Hatay with its rich cuisine
The unique flavors of Hatay cuisine were registered worldwide in 2017 and included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Hatay, the second city to be included in this list after Gaziantep in the field of gastronomy, introduces its dishes bearing the traces of different civilizations to the whole world.
Craft and folk arts of Kutahya in UNESCO
Kutahya entered UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network in the field of crafts and folk arts. Kutahya, which has been on the list since 2017, is the first city in Turkey to qualify for entry in this field. Kutahya, which deserved to be included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2016 with its tile art, was added to the Creative Cities Network and registered as an arts and crafts city.
Cradle of Civilizations: Istanbul
Istanbul is the first city from Turkey to be included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of design. Istanbul, which has a deep-rooted design infrastructure with its thousands of years of history and knowledge of art, craft and craftsmanship culture, was included in the list in 2017. Istanbul, the cradle of civilizations, impresses with the works of masters and craftsmen in every corner.
The city of Bozlak masters: Kirsehir
Kirsehir is the first city in our country to be included in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network in the field of music. Kirsehir, which entered the list in 2019, continues the abdallik and bozlak tradition in Anatolian culture; He is famous for his masters such as Neset Ertas, Muharrem Ertas and Cekic Ali.
The city of flavors filtered from tradition: Afyonkarahisar
Afyonkarahisar, which hosts many civilizations like many cities of Anatolia, is one of the three cities of Turkey that are included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy. Afyonkarahisar made it to the list in 2019 thanks to its rich cuisine with unique and delicious local flavors that keep its traditions alive.
The city of tiles and silk: Bursa
Bursa was the last city to be included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. The city, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014 with the Khans Area, Sultan Complexes and Cumalıkızık, was included in the Creative Cities Network this time with its craft and folk arts accumulation. Bursa is now preparing to introduce its famous china and silk to the world.
Source: TRTHaber
