Global Calls
UNESCO Creative Cities’ Response to COVID-19
Culture and creativity have been affected in unprecedented ways by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many World Heritage properties and cultural institutions closed, and with artists and cultural professionals struggling to make ends meet. At the same time, particularly at the local level, culture and creativity have provided relief to millions of people in the face of widespread lockdown measures, school closures, and social and economic upheaval.
In 2020 and 2021, the UCCN Secretariat reached out to its member cites from around the world, to collect and learn from the local measures that were and are being undertaken in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Member cities have been encouraged to tap into the creative potential of culture and creativity during these challenging times, and to use the Network as a platform to find inspiration and partners, and to share experiences and knowledge.
As a result, two publications on Creative Cities response to COVID-19 have been developed and are now available on UNESCO digital library:
Moreover, on 6-7 July 2021, the UCCN Secretariat co-organized with the Creative City of Santos a 2-Day Online Meeting entitled ‘UNESCO Creative Cities: Build Back Better from COVID-19’.
The meeting gathered 176 Creative Cities, including 13 mayors and presented 23 culture-empowered responses and recovery measures.
