Forum Braga hosts the XVI Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network

The historic city of Braga will host the XVI Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in 2024, from 1 to 5 July. Under the theme "20 Years of UCCN: Bringing Youth into the Next Decade", the event will highlight the role of creativity and culture in building resilient and inclusive cities, with a special focus on young people's participation.

Forum Braga will be the main stage for this meeting, offering a rich and diverse program. Activities will include plenary sessions, workshops, and debates focused on cultural governance, investment initiatives, and cross-sector collaborations. The plenary sessions will feature discussions led by international experts on the integration of creativity in urban policies. In the themed workshops, participants will be able to engage in interactive activities focused on areas such as digital art, sustainability, and social innovation. In addition, there will be project presentations, showing creative and cultural initiatives from various cities in the UCCN network.

Additional programming will include Ágora Be-Creative, a creative district in Braga that will offer interactive meetings and cultural experiences open to delegations and locals. The Presidents' Forum will have discussions focused on cultural policies and urban development strategies. Sustainable itineraries will also be organized, promoting sustainable and ecological tourism, with close interaction with local communities.

Forum Braga will be the place where most of the official work of the different delegations takes place, however participants will have the opportunity to get involved in immersive programs in creative cities in the North of Portugal, such as Amarante, Barcelos and Santa Maria da Feira, getting to know the rich cultural and innovative aspects of these regions. The presence is confirmed, among other personalities, of Ernesto Ottone R., director general for Culture at UNESCO, Denise Bax, secretary of the Creative Cities Network, Andre Sobczak, secretary general of Eurocities, and Dalila Rodrigues, minister of Culture.

The complete event program and all information can be found here.