The Moroccan city of Essaouira, famous for its Gnaoua Festival and Atlantic Andalusia Festival, has joined UNESCO's Creative Cities Network, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization announced on Wednesday. The organization's Network of Creative Cities, which has 246 members, brings together cities that base their development on creativity, whether in music, arts and crafts, design, cinema, literature, digital arts or gastronomy, UNESCO said in a press release issued on the World Cities' Day, celebrated on 31 October. On this occasion, UNESCO has designated 66 urban settlements that are to join the Organization's Network of Creative Cities, including Essaouira. UNESCO creative cities commit to placing culture at the centre of their development strategies and to share their best practices. «All over the world, these cities, each in its way, make culture the pillar, not an accessory, of their strategy», says UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, as quoted in the release. «This favours political and social innovation and is particularly important for the young generations», she added. On 31 October, UNESCO and officials from 24 cities around the world will celebrate World Cities Day. The celebration, an occasion for «urban dialogues», will showcase exceptional cities that rely on innovation and collective intelligence to shape their future, the source said.
