The XIV Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network began on Tuesday (July 19), at the Blue Med Convention Center, in Santos (SP). The opening ceremony was attended by the entity's deputy director of culture, Ernesto Ottone, the mayor of the host city, Rogério Santos, and the director of the Cultural and Educational Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Paula Alves de Souza, among other authorities.

Mayors and deputy mayors and representatives of 106 creative cities from around the world will meet until next Friday (22) to discuss building more inclusive and sustainable cities, especially in the post-pandemic period. International delegations include Jakarta, Istanbul, Seoul, Milan, Guadalajara, Bristol and Quebec; in Brazil, cities such as João Pessoa and Campina Grande (PB), Recife (PE), Salvador (BA), Belém (PA), Fortaleza (CE) Paraty (RJ), Belo Horizonte (MG), Curitiba (PR) and Florianópolis (SC) are represented.

“Creativity as a Path to Equality” is the focus of the Conference. Member cities will debate the topic and collectively reflect on shared opportunities to implement sustainable development strategies and initiatives in line with UNESCO's priority areas.

UNESCO Deputy Director of Culture Ernesto Ottone highlighted in his opening speech the importance of Culture as a global public asset that requires attention. Cities must assume the role of agents of transformation, especially due to the large population concentration. He highlighted how creativity can contribute to social equality, promoting inclusion and cohesion. 

“We trust in the power of Cities to make major global changes”, Ottone said.

The Mayor of Santos, Rogério Santos, highlighted the joint efforts to hold the Conference in the city and the public policies that have been implemented in line with the recommendations of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. 

“We have as a main example the Creative Villages, which today promote qualification courses in ten different areas of the municipality. There is no ready-made city, but today we are moving towards offering people more job opportunities and a more sustainable reality committed to the environment”, he concluded.

Santos joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2015, for its reference in audiovisual, becoming the first in Latin America to receive the Creative City “seal” in this segment. It is also the first Latin American municipality to host an edition of the Conference.

The XIV Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network is organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the host city Santos (www.santos.sp.gov.br), with the support of the Santos Convention and Visitors Bureau and sponsorship of DP World.

For more information, visit the website: www.unescosantos2022.com.br. 

International Press Information 

On Board Sports 

Grace Carreira - grace@onboardsports.net 55 (11) 99136-5430 

Jonas Moura - jonas@onboardsports.net 55 (21) 98722-9427