Why in the news?

  • Lucknow has been officially designated as a UNESCO ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’ during the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Uzbekistan.

UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

  • What is it?: 
    • The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities that identify creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.
    • It encourages cities to share best practices, strengthen cultural industries, and integrate culture and creativity into local development plans.
  • Objectives:
    • Promote creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development.
    • Enhance international cooperation among creative cities.
    • Integrate culture into public policies and urban planning.
    • Support innovation and entrepreneurship in cultural sectors.
    • Facilitate the exchange of experiences, knowledge, and resources among cities.
  • Creative Fields: Member cities are designated based on excellence in one or more of the following seven creative fields- Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music.
  • Representations from India: As of 2025, 15 Indian cities are part of the UCCN
    • Jaipur (Rajasthan): Crafts and Folks
    • Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): Music
    • Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Music
    • Mumbai (Maharashtra): Film
    • Hyderabad (Telangana): Gastronomy
    • Srinagar ( Jammu and Kashmir): Crafts and Folk art
    • Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Gastronomy
    • Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Literature
    • Kolkata (West Bengal): Literature
    • Jaipur (Rajasthan): Crafts and Folk art
    • Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh): Music
    • Kozhikode (Kerala): Literature
    • Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Gastronomy
    • Chandigarh (UT): Design
    • Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Design
  • Significance:
    • Promotes SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by linking culture and creativity to local development.
    • Boosts tourism and global branding of Indian cities.
      Encourages public-private partnerships in creative industries.
    • Strengthens cultural diplomacy and soft power.