Ipoh designated as the “City of Music” by Unesco

Unesco made an official announcement on World Cities Day designating Ipoh as the “City of Music” and welcoming it as one of the 55 new cities to join the Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

The UCCN network comprises cities that lead the way in expanding access to culture and leveraging the power of creativity to enhance urban resilience and development.

Remarkable achievement of Ipoh

The Perak state government, in collaboration with the Federal Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, diligently prepared a dossier that presented Ipoh as a worthy candidate for this esteemed designation.

The UCCN network’s inclusion is a recognition of cities that are at the forefront of making culture accessible and harnessing creativity to boost urban resilience and development. Ipoh’s status as a ‘City of Music’ reflects its dedication to this ideal, underscoring its vibrant musical landscape and the role of music in the city’s cultural identity.

Audrey Azoulay, director-general of Unesco, applauded these new additions to the UCCN network, acknowledging their unwavering commitment to integrating culture and creativity into their development strategies.

Ipoh joins the ranks of cities worldwide dedicated to human-centred urban planning, thereby embracing innovative practices that promote culture and creativity.

Global recognition and future prospects

The UCCN’s expansion to include 55 new cities, including Ipoh, has propelled the network’s reach to 350 cities spanning over one hundred countries.

These cities represent seven distinct creative fields, namely Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music. Ipoh’s addition, with its focus on music, underscores the city’s growing significance in the realm of cultural and creative arts.

These newly designated cities, having demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering culture and creativity as integral components of their development strategies, will collaborate with existing network members.

This partnership aims to bolster urban resilience, especially in the face of emerging challenges such as climate change, escalating inequality, and rapid urbanization. By 2050, it is projected that 68% of the world’s population will reside in urban areas.

It is noteworthy that the newly designated creative cities have received an invitation to participate in the 2024 UCCN Annual Conference, to be held from July 1 to July 5, 2024, in Braga, Portugal. The conference’s theme, “Bringing Youth To The Table For The Next Decade,” underscores the importance of involving young voices in shaping the future of creative cities.

Ipoh follows in the footsteps of Kuching, Sarawak, which gained recognition from the UCCN for its rich gastronomy in November 2021. Ipoh’s entry into the UCCN network demonstrates Malaysia’s growing presence in the global cultural and creative landscape.