Question : Member of UNESCO Creative Cities Network

(a) whether the UNESCO has designated Mumbai as a member of UNESCO creative cities Network (UCCN) in the field of Film and Hyderabad in the field of gastronomy recently;

(b) whether this aims at pushing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovative thinking and action and the steps taken by the Government to push other cities to the creative city of gastronomy;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the aims and objectives for providing such unique designation to the different cities;

(d) the criteria followed to provide this unique tag to the cities;

(e) whether some more cities across the country have already been included in the said list by the UCCN and if so, the details thereof, city-wise and the field in which they have been accorded this status; and

(f) Whether some more Indian States are likely to be included in the UCCN and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM
(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) Yes Sir, Mumbai was designated as Creative City of Film and Hyderabad was designated as Creative City of Gastronomy on 31st October 2019, under the UNESCO Creative City Network.

(b) & (c) Yes, it also aims at pushing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovative thinking and action. The nominated cities present elaborate proposals and initiatives stating their strategies and plan of using creativity as a driver for sustainable development at both the local and international level.

These initiatives aim to create synergies between different creative fields while involving state parties, civil societies, professional associations and cultural institutions. They mainly aim at creating important links between economic, social and cultural developments, thereby fulfilling the sustainable development goals.

The UNESCO designation indicates recognition of the quality, relevance and feasibility of the strategy and proposed action plan outlined in the application to implement the objectives of the Network, as set out in its UCCN Mission Statement. Cities that become members recognize the importance of sustainable and inclusive urban development, and therefore commit to enhancing the role of culture and creativity for Sustainable Development.

(d) The criteria for nomination are that the cities should be representative of either one or some of the seven creative fields prescribed by the UCCN: Crafts and Folk Arts, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music.

(e) Three cities have already been included in the UCCN list; Varanasi as Creative City of Music was designated in 2015, Jaipur as Creative City of Crafts and Folk Arts was designated in 2015 and Chennai as Creative City of Music was designated in 2017.

(f) The city of Kochi has prepared a nomination dossier for Creative City of Gastronomy. It will be sent for nomination in the next cycle of applications.