On 31 October 2023, UNESCO announced the inclusion of Bukhara in the Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The city’s candidacy was put forward with the support of the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network program was founded in 2004 and is updated every two years. It is designed to develop international cooperation between cities willing to invest in creativity – the engine of sustainable urban development, social inclusion, and expanding the influence of culture in the world.

The program supports UN initiatives, including the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Currently, about 300 cities around the world are included in the program.

The Creative Cities Network represents seven creative fields: crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music. The Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan presented Bukhara in the Crafts and Folk Art direction and a four-year plan for developing creativity in the city.

“We are very proud that Bukhara has been added to the prestigious UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Remarkably, the historical and cultural heritage of this ancient city has received a worthy assessment from the world community. I am also confident that the proposal to hold the 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand in 2025 will strengthen the contribution made by Uzbekistan within UNESCO”, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Saida Mirziyoyeva said.

In 2025, Bukhara will host the First Biennale of Contemporary Design and Crafts. Its organization has essential goals for Uzbekistan – including the country in the international art community and enhancing its cultural and historical image worldwide.

Thanks to the Biennale, there will be an opportunity for local artisans and artists to interact with international colleagues. This promotes the exchange of experience between specialists and will provide a vector for unlocking the potential of traditional crafts in a modern context.

“UNESCO’s decision is a new stage in the development of the creative sector in the historical cities of Uzbekistan. Bukhara is a city with an ancient history, where folk art was one of the key factors of urban culture. In accordance with its goals and objectives, the Foundation aims not only to raise awareness of the cultural potential of Uzbekistan abroad, but also to expand and develop the national cultural and creative environment. This news is of particular importance for Uzbekistan before the 4th World Conference on Creative Economy in October 2024 in Tashkent”, says Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan and the National Commission for UNESCO.

Nazokat Usmanova, UzA