The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is being actively promoted by many cities in Thailand and abroad.เครือข่ายเมืองสร้างสรรค์ของยูเนสโก’ Numerous cities worldwide have successfully become members of the UCCN, while others have not met the criteria. What are the key factors for success?
The UCCN has established a biannual application process, requiring interested cities to fill out an application form. Beyond detailing the city's strengths in one of the seven designated fields, cities must present opportunities, development strategies, and national and international impacts. Crucially, they must demonstrate a creative asset base and commitment to the network's mission, which includes detailed plans and working structures to meet the strategic goals, involving policy processes, budgeting, and city management.
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Understanding the Meaning of Creative Cities and the UNESCO Creative Cities Network
Creative Cities: Urban centers that utilize creativity and culture for sustainable development, social cohesion, and economic growth.
UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN): A global network recognized by UNESCO committed to promoting creative and cultural industries.
The Mission of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network
The UCCN aims to enhance cooperation among cities that see creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable development across economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions. Member cities are expected to share best practices, promote creative and cultural industries, enrich cultural life, and integrate culture into urban development plans, supporting the UN's broader framework.
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Strategic Framework: Building a Collective Vision for the Future In 2017, UNESCO released the strategic framework "BUILDING A COLLECTIVE VISION FOR THE FUTURE," focusing on: · Developing a global network through collaboration on policy, standards, and operations. · Expanding the network to foster innovation in culture-engaged urban policies. · Creating new missions and governance mechanisms.
Since then, cities seeking membership must present detailed plans, policies, and structures to align with this strategic vision. Key Organizational Structure for Driving Creative Cities Successful application involves roles, missions, policies, and action plans. In Thailand, the supporting entities include:
- · International Agencies: UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok.
- · Government Agencies: National Commission of UNESCO Thailand.
- · Local Government: Provincial Offices, Provincial Administrative Organizations, Municipalities.
- · Supporting Organizations: Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), Creative Economy Agency (CEA).
Linking Missions and Goals Thai agencies are aligned under key themes: culture, tourism, international conferences, and the creative economy. For example: วัฒนธรรม การท่องเที่ยว การประชุมนานาชาติ และเศรษฐกิจสร้างสรรค์ โดยสามารถแยกกลุ่มได้ดังนี้
Culture: UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and the Thai National Commission for UNESCO focus on preserving national and international culture.
Tourism: Provincial offices work with DASTA to promote sustainable tourism integrating culture.
International Conferences: TCEB promotes MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and includes the Creative Cities Network as part of its international agenda.
ด้านเศรษฐกิจสร้างสรรค์ CEA aims to develop cultural capital and creative cities, with a target to increase the number of UNESCO Creative Cities in Thailand by two by 2030.
The Commitment Each city aspiring to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network must design plans and structures that fulfill the network’s mission, emphasizing that membership is a commitment to global collaboration and sustainable development, not merely an award. In addition to responding to such aims, it is necessary to address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and MONDIACULT, or the UNESCO Declaration on Culture and Sustainable Development. Creative Economy:
Note:
- 7 areas: design, handicrafts and folk art, film, gastronomy, music, literature, and media arts.
- UNESCO, or United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, acts as a specialized agency of the United Nations which promotes cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. Thailand became Member No. 49 of UNESCO on 1st January 1949, and the Cabinet resolved to appoint a National Commission for Education, Science and Culture of the United Nations (National Commission for UNESCO) in accordance with the UNESCO Charter, with the Minister of Education as Chair, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education as Vice-president, and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education (Foreign Affairs) as Secretary-General. On 26th October 1949 the Secretariat of the United Nations National Committee on Education, Science and Culture was established, serving as the national coordinating agency with UNESCO in 6 areas: education, natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, culture, communication, and information. The final aspect listed is a special topic. In practice, various committees are appointed to perform the work, specialized according to objectives and expertise
อ้างอิง
https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/rwss/2016/chapter1.pdf
https://www.bic.moe.go.th/index.php/pages/unesco/blog/new-30-5-2566