Kuching files for creative city list

KUCHING, 10 May 2021: Malaysia’s Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC), is working with the Sarawak government to Award Kuching, the state’s capital UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UNCCN) recognition.

First reported by Bernama, Malaysia’s official news agency, Kuching has filed an application for UNESCO status under the gastronomy category.

UNESCO founded the UNCCN in 2004 to “foster innovation and creativity as a driver towards sustainable city development.”

The network comprises seven categories for creative cities, namely literature, film, music, design, traditional crafts and arts, gastronomy and media arts.

“The diversity of heritage menus and ethnic-based dishes makes Kuching the top choice to be designated as a creative city in the gastronomy category while its rich biodiversity with various herbs can also be used as a food source,” Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, said in a statement, last week.

Following the last round of UNCCN evaluations, announced 30 October 2019, UNESCO confirmed 66 cities Creative Cities based on “their tangible contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through innovative thinking and action.” The Creative Cities Network now counts 246 cities.

“All over the world, these cities, each in its way, make culture the pillar, not an accessory, of their strategy,” said UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay. “This favours political and social innovation and is particularly important for the young generations.”

Kuching’s application as a City of Gastronomy is under consideration and likely to be approved in October 2021 when the next new listing is released. If successful, it will join 35 other cities on the gastronomy category list.

Cities of Gastronomy

(Source: Bernama, UNESCO and Wikipedia table)

For more information on Kuching: https://sarawaktourism.com/kuching/