Bydgoszcz is the City of Music! We have entered the UNESCO Creative Cities Network

On October 31, 2023, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network announced a list of cities whose applications to join the Network were assessed positively. Our application was recognized and thus Bydgoszcz was the only Polish city in this year's selection to receive the title of Creative City in the Field of Music.

The 55 cities that joined the Network this year were recognized primarily for their "strong commitment to using culture and creativity as part of their development strategies and demonstrating innovative practices in people-centered urban planning" (UNESCO statement).

Bydgoszcz's application to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network is a natural consequence of the evolution of the approach to culture in our city, which has been ongoing since the Bydgoszcz Culture Congress and the following events: the signing of the Pact for Culture, the creation of the Civic Strategy for Cultural Development and the resulting urban strategy.

By joining the Network, cities confirm their commitment to develop partnerships, promote creativity, share best practices and strengthen residents' participation in cultural life.

The UNESCO Creative Cities network covers seven areas of creativity: literature, music, film, handicrafts and folk art, design, gastronomy and media art. Currently, the Network brings together 350 cities representing various fields of cultural activity

The network includes six Polish cities. In 2013, the title of Creative City in the field of literature was awarded to Kraków, in 2015 to Katowice (music), in 2017 to Łódź (film), in 2019 to Wrocław (literature), and in 2021 to Gdynia (film). In 2023, Bydgoszcz joined the Network in the field of music.