Rasht Preparing Bid to Join UNESCO Creative Cities Network

TEHRAN (UN.org.ir) - On 20-21 February Ms. Esther Kuisch Laroche, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office, visited the city of Rasht to discuss UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network with the municipal authorities.

Date: 22 February 2015 - 20:20

News ID: ۱۱۲۶۲

The Creative Cities Network is a network of cities, working together towards a common mission for cultural diversity and sustainable urban development. There are currently 69 member cities around the world in seven creative industry fields: Literature; Cinema; Music; Craft and Folk Arts; Design; Media Arts; and Gastronomy.
The city of Rasht is currently preparing its application in the hope to become Iran’s first Creative City in the field of gastronomy.
In a meeting which took place in the historic city hall building of Rasht, the UNESCO Representative was briefed by the mayor and members of the Islamic Council of Rasht on their efforts to prepare their proposal, which was handed over to the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO.
"We want the world to know about our gastronomy and our rich intangible cultural heritage” said Ms. Qadimi, Head of Sustainable Development at Rasht Municipality.
In an effort to showcase the culinary variety of the city and the province of Gilan, the municipality organized a Food Festival on 21 February, which was attended by the UNESCO representative and the Secretary General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO.
Dozens of women and men in traditional clothing presented their local delicacies and provided explanations about the preparation of the food.
Asked whether or not she thought Rasht had a chance of becoming a Creative City, Ms. Kuisch Laroche responded "You have now submitted your proposal to the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO for review, which is a first step. The process ahead is still long, but with your hard work and determination, I have no doubt you will be successful.”