In another proud accomplishment for Qatar, the capital city Doha has been designated as a Creative City of Design by UNESCO, a first in the region.
The Qatari city is among 49 cities that have newly joined UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
Worldwide, 49 new cities have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) following their designation by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
The Network recognizes cities for their commitment to placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans locally, while cooperating actively with other cities, internationally.
The Network now numbers 295 cities reaching 90 countries that invest in culture and creativity – crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music – to advance sustainable urban development.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.
According to UNESCO the cities which currently make up this network work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.
Doha’s recognition in the field of ‘design’ echoes the city’s strong focus on encouraging creativity and advancing cultural activities.
“We are glad that Doha city in Qatar was designated by the UNESCO DG, Audrey Azoulay, as a new member in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network,” the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations said in a tweet earlier this week.
“What better way to celebrate #QatarCreates with this new accomplishment for Qatar! Doha is the first city to be registered for design in the region by UNESCO in their Creative Cities Network,” she said in a tweet.
Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, also expressed her delight at the honorable designation.
(Based on various reports)
