From July 18 to 24, 2022, the city of Santos, Brazil, hosted the XIV Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (CCN). The Conference brought together delegates from nearly 300 cities in approximately 90 countries, under the theme "Creativity as a path to equality" and was held for the first time in Latin America.
The event aimed to highlight the role of culture and creativity in the reduction of social and economic inequalities and in the revitalization of urban spaces, promoting exchanges and collaboration around the activities of UNESCO's Creative Cities, in line with UNESCO's global priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
During the Conference, Santos, in collaboration with UNESCO, had the pleasure to receive the members of the Network, including mayors, deputies, focal points and other city representatives, around a varied program composed of plenary sessions, thematic panels, the Mayors Forum, sub-network meetings, etc., as well as a cultural program and other complementary activities
The Creative Cities Network is a UNESCO flagship program launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities that have identified culture and creativity as strategic factors for sustainable urban development. In 2015, Santos joined the Network as a UNESCO Creative City of Film. Other creative areas covered by the Network are: crafts and popular arts, design, gastronomy, literature, digital arts and music.
The City of Saint-Etienne was represented by Marc Chassaubéné, Vice President of Saint-Étienne Métropole in charge of design and digital, deputy for culture in the City of Saint-Etienne and president of the Cité du design Esadse and Isabelle Vérilhac director of international and innovation Cité du design ESADSE and focal point of Saint-Étienne UNESCO Creative City of Design.
This meeting allowed the promotion of the City of Saint-Etienne and the Cité2025 project and also to exchange on the first tracks for the participation of the UNESCO creative cities to the Biennale Internationale Design Saint-Étienne 2025.
Under the theme "Creativity, the path to equality", the role of creativity as a catalyst for the construction of inclusive and egalitarian societies, the content of the testimonies was of great diversity and quality. We are proud to be part of this network of committed and convinced actors.
