Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, has been admitted to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the category of Design. The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov at a government meeting on 2 November 2023.
The decision was made on October 31, World Cities Day, by UNESCO headquarters in Paris. It recognizes Ashgabat’s development in line with modern international urban trends.
Work on Ashgabat’s nomination to the Creative Cities Network began in 2021 and was carried out jointly by Turkmenistan and relevant UNESCO structures, committees, and international experts.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network is a global initiative that aims to promote cooperation among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. With the latest additions, the Network now counts 350 cities in more than one hundred countries, representing seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music.
Newly designated cities will cooperate with Network members to strengthen their resilience the face of evolving threats such as climate change, rising inequality, as well as rapid urbanization, with 68% of the world’s population projected to live in urban areas by 2050.
“The cities in our Creative Cities Network are leading the way when it comes to enhancing access to culture and galvanizing the power of creativity for urban resilience and development,” says Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General.
Ashgabat’s inclusion in the Creative Cities Network is a testament to its commitment to developing a vibrant and creative urban environment. The designation is also expected to boost the city’s profile as a global cultural destination. ///nCa, 3 November 2023