Kerala’s Kozhikode and Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior have been declared as City of Literature and City of Music by UNESCO. On the occasion of World Cities Day, observed on October 31, UNESCO unveiled a prestigious list of 55 new creative cities, and Kozhikode and Gwalior made it to the list for their commitment to culture, creativity, and innovative urban planning.
Kozhikode met the stringent criteria, boasting a multitude of literary institutions, extensive experience in organising literary events, and a high level of literary education. The city’s literary activities, characterised by both quality and diversity, secured its place on UNESCO’s Creative Cities list.
Gwalior’s rich musical history, encompassing legends like Tansen and Baliti Bawra, along with the esteemed Gwalior Gharana, earned it this prestigious recognition of the City of Music.
With these latest additions, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network now boasts 350 creative cities in more than 100 countries, spanning seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.
The newly designated creative cities will participate in the UCCN annual conference in Braga, Portugal, from July 1 to 5, 2024, under the theme, Bringing Youth to the Table for the Next Decade.
