Participation of the cities designated in 2023 and subnetworks Coordinators

Opening remarks by:
. Mr Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga
. Mr Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO
. A representative of the national authorities (TBC)
. Keynote speaker (TBC)
Master of Ceremony: TBD

With the participation of the Coordination Group.

Exhibition spaces and activities co-programmed with the 7 subnetworks

Presentation of the IOS evaluation report and its recommendations
Launch of the Report on the impact of the UCCN designation

Creative Cities as drivers of sustainable development post-2030 – UNESCO Creative Cities Manifesto for a Culture Goal
With the participation of UNESCO representatives, a group of Mayors from Creative Cities, and representatives from other intergovernmental and international networks
Launch of the UNESCO Creative Cities Manifesto

Focus on the Creative City projects and initiatives that have been initiated by local artists, cultural professionals or local stakeholders from both the Global North to the Global South. These should showcase innovative and accessible ways to ethically integrate artificial intelligence ( while closely examining their impact on policy making. Additionally, they should highlight the protection and inclusion of cultural and artistic rights at various stages of cultural development.

Focus on multifaceted aspects in cultural and creative practices and education strategies, and cultural investment initiatives that shape a city’s policies for promoting cultural equity, diversity, and accessibility both from indigenous communities to younger generations. And to learn how these efforts directly contribute to the overall prosperity and well-being of a city’s future.

Meetings of the 7 subnetworks in parallel in different rooms

Night-Life Economy in the Braga city and activity programme at Be-Creative Agora, in a co-creation with subnetworks.

Commissioned by Braga, the artistic production led by Mikhail Karikis takes shape in a co-creative venture with young individuals from the four Portuguese partner Creative Cities. Centered on the future of urban life, this collaboration weaves together diverse perspectives and dreams, crafting a narrative for the cities of the future. Engage with this celebration of youthful insight as it redefines the possibilities of our urban spaces.

For Mayors only

UNESCO, INL & Braga City Council representatives

Opening Keynote

Global Mayors Lightning Talks

THEME 1: TRUST IN INTEGRATED AND SYSTEMATIC CHANGE
Middle-Term Strategies and Long-Term Perspectives to ensure the systematic anchoring of culture into the public policies in a context of the Creative Cities with active youth engagement for the post-2030 Agenda?

THEME 2: DECENT INVESTMENTS IN CULTURAL, HUMAN AND DIGITAL CAPITAL
Focus on what is a decent and systematic investment in cultural and arts education, creative entrepreneurship and next-generation skills, including modern technologies and life-long learning to enable resilience and structural stability of the cultural sector and its value chain? How does this investment significantly propel transversal sustainable development efforts of Creative Cities?
Participants: 4 Mayors + Moderator

THEME 3: BUILDING RESILIENCE: CULTURAL BRIDGES THAT BENEFITS TO NEXT-GENERATIONS
Focus on the proactive measures that can be taken to empower the younger generation to lead creative innovation and be culturally resilient through participation and collaboration. Which forward-thinking strategies and mechanisms should cities prioritize when it comes to fostering adaptability and resilience for an uncertain future and future generations, improving capacity to address climate change, preserving the planet’s health, and promoting world/common peace?

Conclusion of the Roundtable

Presently, youth are often sidelined from decision-making processes, lacking the avenues to advocate for their interests effectively. By creating inclusive and empowering spaces where they can actively participate and address pertinent issues, we empower them to shape their future. To be active participants in advocating for systematic changes where their voices and needs are being accounted for within the broader context of cultural policy. As a structured approach, to enable not only the enrichment of the policy-making process with new perspectives, but also the meaningful strengthening of the social fabric of the younger generation, so that their presence becomes an integral part of the cultural, social, environmental and economic decision-making process. What strategies can be implemented to guarantee that the voices and needs of youth are heard and addressed through the provision of opportunities for personal development and meaningful engagement in building decent, sustainable and equitable cities where culture and creativity acts in its core?

Public spaces have a significant importance in the way they can relate and improve the well-being of the society and ensure cultural background and heritage for future generations. Delegates will be encouraged to use their imagination and creativity to envision the transformation of Amarante’s public spaces in the real-time. By drawing from global knowledge and practical examples, they will gain understanding of how individuals and communities with diverse cultural backgrounds engage with these spaces.

09:30 – 10:00
Hear the Sound of Amarante!
Location: City center, public space
Welcome of delegates, providing insights into the day’s playful and creative challenges, which are connected to the city’s public spaces. Engaging participants in a color-gamified activity, forming groups to explore collaboratively.

10:00 – 11:00
Fall in Love with Amarante
Location: TBC
A playful, gamified exploration of the city and its public spaces to unlock senses and embark on an adventure of discovering the scenic jam.

11:00 – 12:30
Explore Outside
Location: MIMAR – Amarante museum of identity and memory
World-view of successful, unusual as well as worth-recognized inclusive solutions dedicated to the individual and communal well-being.

12:30 – 14:00
Amar-Piquenique
Location: MIMAR – Amarante museum of identity and memory (outdoors)
A scenic picnic lunch with local Amarantinos who contribute to the cultural love and flavors of the area. A space for socializing among participants and connecting with the local creative ecosystem.

14:00 – 15:00
Think Inside with Amarantinos
Location: MIMAR – Amarante museum of identity and memory
Group exercises to envision a youthful future scenario for Amarante’s public space(s). A mediated storytelling to share knowledge and perspective among the group participants that aligns with a particular context; guided exercises to delve into a place-creating brainstorming to create a collective pitch.

15:00 – 16:30
Music and Talks
Location: Different spaces within the city
“Pitching” the collaboratively developed future ideas for Amarante public spaces. Open to the city citizens (distributed in groups) Music and Talks will provide city “stages” for feedback exchanges (like “voting”, “questioning”, “let’s keep talking” boxes) while enjoying a pleasant ambiance with music and sounds from Amarante.

In Barcelos, the renowned open market comes alive every Thursday, serving as a vibrant center of cultural exchange for centuries. During immersive fieldwork, delegates will explore how these open city markets can evolve into creative hubs that promote accessible learning and continuous cultural engagement. They will also identify sustainable assets that help transform locally sourced resources into investment opportunities through creative interactions.

9:30 – 10:15
Welcome Reception by the mayor of Barcelos
Location: TBC

9:30 – 10:15
Measure of Barcelos
Location: TBC
Engaging exploration of current market dynamics and future opportunities, led by Dr. Sérgio Dominique. Participants are invited to dive into an interactive “sell-and-buy” exchange to discuss and discover the key assets that make traditional and open markets sustainable.

10:15 – 12:15
Future Market Quest
Location: Campo da Feira (Campo da República)
Guided group exploration of the live market, which will delve into its cultural, social, economic, environmental, innovative, and intergenerational aspects. Participants will be divided into six groups, each tasked with observing, mapping, and analyzing different facets of the market. This comprehensive approach will help participants envision the potential evolution and dynamics of future markets and their cultural impact.

12:30 – 14:00
LUNCH

14:00 – 16:30
Market ideation
Location: Theatre Gil Vicente (Hall); Noble Room of the City Hall; House of Creativity
Engaging discussions to exchange observations of the current market landscape. and key trends, challenges, and opportunities witnessed in the market (estimated duration 30 minutes)
Using creative energy for visual aids and storytelling to envision future possibilities for the market. (estimated duration 1 hour)

16:30 – TBC
Sound of clay
Location: TBC
A collective art making of music  presentation with clay creation.

In Santa Maria da Feira, the rich tapestry of medieval flavors inspires modern creativity, bridging the culinary arts with street art. The city represents a unique blend of tradition and innovation, showcasing everything from historic castle recipes to cutting-edge technologies. This environment fosters a culture of literacy and tools that encourage imaginative exploration and experimentation. Every culinary experience in Santa Maria da Feira invites new tastes and interactions, using historical insights as a foundation for future cultural developments.Santa Maria da Feira emerges as a dynamic crossroad and acts as a collaborative platform for nurturing up-skilling tools. The city attempts to provide learning opportunities from the arts of streets, nature, and the limitless creative domains of imagination, in a harmonious blend of respect for tradition and openness to free expressions

10:00 – 10:30
Street-Arts Classroom
Location: city; public space /square
Welcome
Creative storytelling in collaboration with the festival “Imaginarius” (skill-building exercise)

10:30 – 12:30
Library of the next-generation technologies
Location: Library of Santa Maria da Feira
We will host a plenary session focused on understanding current and future trends, aiming to enhance literacy regarding the emerging needs and trends in creative technologies. This session will facilitate an interactive exchange among participants to explore the implications of new-generation technologies in the culture of tomorrow. Together, we will co-imagine and develop a ‘recipe’ for the ‘cooking kit’—a collection of new tools and platforms designed to boost creativity and collaboration among creative artists, entrepreneurs, citizens, and future city leaders

12:30 – 14:00
LUNCH

14:00 – 14:45
Sweet bread for Collaborative Platforms
Location: Quinta do Castelo
Inspired by the process of making Fogaça, we will engage in a focused discussion to summarize the results of the ‘cooking kit’ exchange. This conversation will explore the crucial role that creative cities play in enhancing the skills of their emerging young creatives, professionals, and citizens. Additionally, we will discuss strategies for how inter-city collaboration can empower multi-stakeholder platforms to drive creative innovation while preserving the community’s core values throughout the value chain.”

14:45 – 15:15
“Up to the Castle”
Location: City Centre
Networking walk across the cities green spaces, exploring the network of historic Portuguese gardens

15:15 – 16:30
Encompassing Fabrics of Feira
Location: Castle of Santa Maria da Feira
A dynamic event that blends flavors, culture, and conversation. Set against the backdrop of a historic castle, this captivating gathering features live cooking and cocktail demonstrations by emerging young professionals. It’s an ideal networking opportunity for those looking to connect in a vibrant and culturally rich setting.

With the participation of all members of the Coordination Group
Summary of the cluster meetings
Main upcoming Network activities
Major joint projects and future activities

Presentation by the 2025 Host City (city presentation, event concept and proposed theme)

Video screening of Conference highlights
Closing remarks by:
Mr Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga
Mr Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO

Braga is renowned for its hospitality and warm welcome to visitors. We take great pride in our honesty and sincerity, particularly when it comes to our guests. As you enjoy this afternoon, we encourage you to truly connect with your inner self, immerse yourself in the local culture, embrace nature, and discover our rich heritage. Let this experience be a journey of self-discovery, connection, and appreciation.