Paris, 23 June. On 23 and 24 June, the French town of Enghien-les-Bains is hosting the XVII Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), under the theme: “Culture and Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of UNESCO Creative Cities.” Cuba is actively represented in this Network through Havana and Santiago de Cuba, as Creative Cities of Music, and Trinidad, as a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art.
The official opening ceremony of the Conference was presided over by the host city's mayor, Philippe Sueur, who highlighted Havana's participation as a Creative City of Music, marked by the performance of young Cuban pianist Malva Rodríguez González in the iconic Rose Garden of Enghien-les-Bains. Her performance was a tribute to Cuban music and a cultural gift to the more than 500 delegates present, from around 200 Creative Cities.
During the working sessions, presentations and discussions focused on the future of creative cities, with key moments including the Thematic Session, the Mayors’ Forum, and the Creative Cities Fair. In particular, the Thematic Session addressed the topic “Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Creative Sectors for Sustainable Urban Development,” highlighting city experiences using AI to foster cultural innovation, promote inclusion, and support the sustainable transformation of urban environments.
Cuba was represented throughout the various dialogue spaces by Indira Fajardo, President of the Cuban Institute of Music, who reaffirmed the Island’s commitment to culture as a cross-cutting axis of its development.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network was created in 2004 and today brings together over 350 cities that promote creativity as a driver of sustainable development. The Cuban cities in the Network are: Havana (Music, since 2019), Santiago de Cuba (Music, since 2021), and Trinidad (Crafts and Folk Art, since 2019).