Macao Shines at UNESCO Creative Cities Conference in Portugal

Monday, July 8, 2024

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) proudly represented Macao, China, at the XVI Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) from July 1 to 5 in Braga, Portugal. Hosted by Braga Creative City of Media Arts, this significant event united delegations from approximately 250 member cities. MGTO seized this platform to enhance exchanges within the network and elevate Macao’s global profile.

Leadership and Participation

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, MGTO Director and Macao SAR Focal Point to the UCCN, led the Macao delegation. She engaged in plenary sessions, cluster meetings for Creative Cities of Gastronomy, and various other activities, strengthening Macao’s involvement with the UCCN.

A Gathering of Creative Minds

The conference attracted around 550 representatives from 250 member cities across over 80 countries, encompassing seven creative fields: crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music.

The opening ceremony featured addresses from Braga’s Mayor, Ricardo Rio, and UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture, Ernesto Ottone R. Additionally, video messages from Portugal’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, underscored the event’s importance.

Celebrating Two Decades of Creativity

With the theme “20 Years of UCCN: Bringing Youth to the Table for the Next Decade,” the five-day event included various themed plenary sessions. Key highlights included the presentation of the UCCN activity report by Secretary Denise Bax, the adoption of the “Braga Manifesto: A Culture Goal for Sustainable Development,” and high-level roundtable dialogues with mayors and international organization representatives.

Parallel activities such as a Mayors’ Forum, Dialogue with Youth, and cluster meetings for each creative field facilitated exchanges and the formation of new initiatives aimed at fostering inclusive, creative, and sustainable cities. These efforts align with the UCCN’s goals and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Cultural and Exchange Activities

The conference also featured a broad array of cultural activities throughout Braga, showcasing the network’s diverse creative fields. Additionally, a one-day program of cultural and exchange activities extended to three neighboring creative cities in Northern Portugal: Amarante (Creative City of Music), Barcelos (Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art), and Santa Maria da Feira (Creative City of Gastronomy).

Macao’s Gastronomy Fest Highlights

During the Creative Cities of Gastronomy cluster meetings, attended by about 40 member cities, Macao highlighted its successful “International Cities of Gastronomy Fest, Macao.” This event, held in June, gathered representatives and chefs from 29 Creative Cities of Gastronomy from six continents. It was the largest international gastronomic culture event organized in Macao, providing a platform for the network and fulfilling the UCCN mission. Senna Fernandes invited member cities to participate in next year’s fest.

Immersive Experience in Santa Maria da Feira

On Thursday, the Macao delegation visited Santa Maria da Feira, engaging in activities themed “Innovation and the New Generation Technologies: from upskilling tools to collaborative platforms.” The delegation was welcomed by the city’s mayor, Amadeu Albergaria.

A Return to In-Person Participation

This year’s UCCN Annual Conference marked Macao’s first in-person participation since the pandemic. Since its designation as a Creative City of Gastronomy in 2017, Macao has actively engaged with the UCCN, hosting and participating in numerous events to further its development in the field of gastronomy.

The Growing Network

Established in 2004, the UCCN now comprises 350 cities across seven creative fields from more than 100 countries. In the field of gastronomy, there are 56 cities, including six in China: Chengdu, Shunde, Macao, Yangzhou, Huai’an, and Chaozhou, making China the country with the most Creative Cities of Gastronomy.

Looking Ahead

Macao’s active involvement in the UCCN and its international initiatives continue to bolster its reputation as a vibrant Creative City of Gastronomy, contributing to the global dialogue on creativity and sustainable urban development.