"Festivals in Creative Cities": Hanoi and UNESCO Creative Cities share experiences.

On December 5th, in Hanoi, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports organized the conference "Festivals in Creative Cities" with the theme "Building the Future - Best Practices and Development Frameworks from Hanoi and the UNESCO Creative Cities Network".

The conference brought together international experts and representatives from cities within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network to exchange experiences and jointly identify common directions for organizing creative festivals in an increasingly dynamic urban context.

This year's event is an opportunity for Hanoi to strengthen international connections and share how the city is developing its creative ecosystem after joining UCCN in 2019. In recent years, the Hanoi Creative Design Festival has become a familiar cultural meeting point for the creative community, encouraging youth participation, experimenting with new art models, and expanding cooperation across various sectors.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, Bach Lien Huong, delivered a speech at the conference.

Speaking at the conference, the Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, Bach Lien Huong, said: Having become a member of the "UNESCO Creative Cities Network," after more than six years, Hanoi has undertaken many concrete activities to fulfill its commitments to building a creative city. The city has been and is affirming its position as one of the most dynamic and creative cities and capitals in Asia. The city has promoted creative design activities and fostered opportunities for cooperation among cities within the Network.

In 2024, the city established an expert advisory council, developed creative activity spaces, established criteria and creative activity spaces; established the Hanoi Creative Activities Coordination Center, built a network of Hanoi Creative Cultural Spaces connecting organizations, individuals, experts, artists, and community groups working in the field of creative design; attracted and connected creative resources locally and internationally; introduced, shared, and supported the creative community to develop and expand, with a highlight being the organization of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival.

"The positive results achieved are primarily due to the attention, support, and advice received from many talented experts in the field of creative design. We deeply appreciate their contributions and assistance. And today, at this conference, in order to promote global exchange on organizing Creative Design Festivals, the UNESCO Office in Vietnam continues to support the invitation of several experts representing cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network to exchange ideas on festival content within Creative Cities, and to jointly build a common framework towards impactful, inclusive, and sustainable festival programs," Ms. Bach Lien Huong emphasized.

Mr. Jonathan Baker, Head of UNESCO Representative Office in Vietnam, delivered a speech at the conference.

Speaking at the conference, Jonathan Baker, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam, said: "Hanoi's recognition as a UNESCO Creative City in the field of Design has opened a new chapter – where creativity is no longer a supporting factor for development, but a key driving force. Over the years, the city has fostered a dynamic creative ecosystem: festivals that enliven public spaces, networks connecting communities, and initiatives that empower young designers to envision and create new futures for their city."

Creative festivals may last only a week or a season, but their impact is long-lasting. They bring people together. They invite communities to reclaim and revitalize public spaces. They give young creators a platform to make their voices heard. And they allow cities to express their own identity and aspirations for the future.

Representatives from Creative Cities receive commemorative gifts.

"This conference is an opportunity for us to learn from each other, from cities, from effective public-private-community collaboration models, from festivals that put youth and communities at the center, and from experiences in transforming urban life through innovation," said Jonathan Baker.

At the conference, best practices shared by cities such as Dundee, Bandung, Daegu, Singapore, Kobe, Nagoya, Wuhan, and others helped to paint a diverse picture of how cities around the world are using festivals as tools for sustainable development.

Artistic performance

Many presentations focused on how cities can coordinate resources, from government and the private sector to the community, to sustain festivals for the long term. Another focus was on expanding access for youth, people with disabilities, and local communities, making festivals a place where all groups can participate and create.

In addition, cities shared how they design urban experiences by leveraging public spaces, open exhibition models, interactive installations, and digital platforms to revitalize cultural experiences. Finally, delegates discussed how to measure the socio-cultural and economic impact of festivals, considering this a crucial factor in persuading policymakers and developing long-term development strategies.

Conference scene

The draft Framework for Creative Festivals, developed after the conference, will serve as a reference document for cities to organize festivals in a manner consistent with the spirit of the Creative Cities Network: leveraging collective intelligence, promoting mutual learning, and strengthening cross-border solidarity.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/le-hoi-trong-thanh-pho-sang-tao-ha-noi-va-cac-thanh-pho-sang-tao-cua-unesco-chia-se-kinh-nghiem-20251205151306374.htm