UNESCO declares Tel Aviv a Creative City 1 Dec 2014

UNESCO declares Tel Aviv a Creative City

  •    
    Tel Aviv's entrance into UNESCO's Creative Cities Network reflects the world's recognition of the city as a vibrant center of cultural creation and breakthrough technology.
  • icon_zoom.png
    UNESCO UNESCO
     
     
    UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization established the Creative Cities Network in order to encourage cooperation between international cities as a means to promote local creative industries.

    Tel Aviv will now become a member of the Creative Cities Network in the field of Media Arts. Cities in this area are characterized by creative industries and cultural activity driven by the use of digital technology, as well as the successful implementation of media arts for improving urban life. This is measured by the accessibility of cultural events and products through digital technology and the existence of electronic art forms and their integration into the life of civil society.
     
    The city’s flourishing high-tech scenes, especially in the media arts field, earned Tel Aviv its place in the Creative Cities Network. Currently Tel Aviv, a city with just over 400,000 residents, has
    more than 700 early-stage startups. Tel Aviv has the second highest number of startups of any city in the world, and the highest number of startups per capita.
     
    The acceptance of Tel Aviv into the Creative Cities Network is a great honor for the city and will strengthen projects and initiatives in the field of media arts and culture. An important aspect of the Network is creating international partnerships between cities based on the exchange of knowledge. In order to retain the title, Tel Aviv will each year present its initiatives, both local and international, to UNESCO.
     
    Commenting on the achievement, the Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Ron Huldai said: "Ten years ago, UNESCO declared the White City of Tel Aviv as a world heritage site. The world recognized the importance of the city's architectural past. Starting from today, Tel Aviv's entrance into UNESCO's Creative Cities Network reflects the world's recognition of the city's contribution to the present and the future - recognition of Tel Aviv as a vibrant center of cultural creation and breakthrough technology."