Ayacucho

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2019

City presentation

Founded in 1539, Ayacucho is known as the “Capital City of Folk Art and Peruvian Craftsmanship.” This Andean city fosters cultural diversity and artistic creativity, developing 16 types of crafts, including retablo, tapestry, Huamanga stone carving, pottery, textiles, and embroidery.

Ayacucho’s local crafts and folk art are celebrated during festivals like Easter and Carnival, which blend music, cinema, theatre, and dance. Events such as the First Regional Meeting of Craftsmen in 2019 aim to promote growth by addressing issues in the industry.

The city also supports crafts through a symposium that led to the creation of a folk art museum, interpretation centers, and a dedicated budget. Ayacucho aims to improve the handicraft sector, promote crafts in local and international markets, teach folk art in schools, recover its cultural heritage, and provide youth internships in partnership with local universities.

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Baguio City

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2017

City presentation

Baguio City, located in Northern Luzon, is a multicultural hub known for its crafts, folk art, woodcarving, silver craft, weaving, and tattooing. The city works to sustain these traditions through the transfer of skills across generations.

The Panagbenga Flower Festival is a major event, showcasing artisans from various linguistic groups, such as the Tuwalis for woodcarving and Benguet for weaving, aiming to boost international exposure. The city has also established creative villages and training centers, particularly for youth, to preserve traditional knowledge.
Baguio City supports its creative sector by fostering innovation, offering market opportunities, and promoting culture-based urban renewal through initiatives like the Rev-Bloom Urban Redevelopment Campaign, strengthening sustainable tourism and collaboration across different sectors.

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Bamiyan

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2015

City presentation

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Bandar Abbas

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2019

City presentation

Bandar Abbas, located on the southern coast of Iran, serves as a gateway to other nations, characterized by its handicrafts, local art, seafood, and music. The city’s creative industries prominently feature handicrafts, divided into three categories: practical and marine crafts, local clothing, and musical instruments.
Each year, numerous exhibitions and conferences highlight artworks created by local makers and students, fostering a new generation of artists and preserving traditional crafts. Bandar Abbas will host the International Handicrafts Fair and the Persian Gulf International Festival to share local experiences and enhance women’s participation in the creative economy.

To support the sector’s growth, the city has implemented various plans, including simplifying business permit processes and organizing home-based artisans. Weekly markets have also been introduced to provide greater exposure for craftsmen, particularly women in the industry. Bandar Abbas envisions integrating cultural industries into local development and becoming a center of excellence for creative industries in the region.

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Bida

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2021

City presentation

Bida City, situated in Niger State, Nigeria, is a member of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, recognized as a City of Crafts and Folk Art in 2021. Its rich cultural heritage dates back to the 11th century, encompassing various crafts such as glassmaking, iron and brass smithing, wood and raffia weaving, and traditional music and songs. These crafts are created using traditional methods and tools, reflecting the city’s deep-rooted cultural traditions. The major ethnic group in Bida is of Nupe descent, coexisting peacefully with other ethnic groups. Bida is renowned for its folk festivals, including the Durbar Festival and Nupe Day, showcasing its vibrant culture and heritage. Historically, Bida has been a center of trade in glass, brass, silver, and iron works since the 14th century, engaging with empires such as Mali, Songhai, Ashanti, and Kanem-Bornu.

As a leading city of crafts and folk art in Nigeria, Bida remains committed to preserving its cultural legacy through its vibrant festivals, traditional crafts, and historical landmarks.

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Bukhara

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2023

City presentation

Bukhara, renowned for its cultural and architectural heritage, has a long-standing tradition of craftsmanship that plays a crucial role in the city’s development. The craft industry supports economic growth, job creation, and increased tourism, while promoting social inclusion and preserving cultural heritage. Skilled artisans in Bukhara practice traditional techniques in golden embroidery, ceramics, jewellery, and woodwork, which are integral to the region’s history along the ancient Silk Road. These artisans also contribute to cultural preservation through workshops and training programs.
With growing global interest in Bukhara’s crafts, international recognition has opened new export opportunities, boosting the local economy and reinforcing the city’s cultural identity.

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Castelo Branco

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2023

City presentation

At the heart of Castelo Branco lies the renowned art of Castelo Branco Embroidery, which shapes the city’s unique cultural identity. This embroidery is not only celebrated for its beauty but also for its economic significance, adorning sidewalks and buildings as a symbol of the city’s rich heritage. Local artisans dedicated to preserving this craft continue to produce intricate embroidery, ensuring its relevance in the creative world.

Castelo Branco has also engaged in international collaborations with cities across various continents, enhancing its cultural influence. To combat demographic decline, the municipality focuses on improving quality of life, making Castelo Branco one of the most attractive cities in Portugal for foreign residents and investments. The crafts industry is crucial to the city’s development, exemplified by the “Embroidery and Hosting” brand, which protects local artisans and promotes events like the Castelo Branco Fashion contest, further advancing this cherished tradition.

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Chiang Mai

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2017

City presentation

Located in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai, the “Rose of the North,” was established in 1296 as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. The city’s craftspeople were essential in developing its reputation as a trade center, contributing to the crafts industry from nearby villages, with 159 established enterprises providing significant employment. Chiang Mai’s craft practices, including pottery, silverwork, wood carving, silk embroidery, and lacquerware, are passed down through programs in public schools, like the ‘Museum to School’ initiative, which raises awareness of local crafts and folk arts.

The Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organisation is committed to protecting this heritage by enhancing educational institutions and launching the ‘One Sub-District, One Product’ initiative to support local crafts in global markets, benefiting small-scale producers, including those from vulnerable communities, through capacity-building workshops.

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Isfahan

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2015

City presentation

Isfahan, Iran’s third largest city with 1.5 million inhabitants, is a hub for crafts and folk art, featuring 9,000 workshops across 167 disciplines, including carpet weaving, metalwork, and ceramics. The historic Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, serves as the main venue for showcasing high-quality crafts. Events like the International Cultural Heritage Festival highlight local and international artistry, with a special focus on female artisans.

Isfahan’s Municipality actively promotes social cohesion and the preservation of traditional knowledge through training workshops and financial support, particularly via Handicrafts Cooperative Societies. As a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, Isfahan aims to enhance the capacities of artists, promote gender equality, and foster international cooperation, ensuring the growth and visibility of its rich craft heritage.

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João Pessoa

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2017

City presentation

João Pessoa is the capital of Paraíba, in the northeast of Brazil. The third oldest city in the country, founded in 1585, it is also known as the “Gateway to the Sun” because it is located on the easternmost point of the Americas. A UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2017, it has been implementing various initiatives aimed at incorporating the concepts of creativity and innovation, as well as the transversality of segments, fostering the local economy and meeting the commitments made when the municipality joined the UCCN.

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Kargopol

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2019

City presentation

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Pekalongan

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2014

City presentation

Pekalongan, known as the “Batik City,” is a multicultural city of 300,000 people where hand-drawn and hand-stamped batik is central to its economy and identity. Batik culture is deeply integrated into the city’s educational and creative economy development plans. The Batik Museum and nearby workshops form a key arts center, recognized for safeguarding this intangible heritage.

Pekalongan’s focus is on preserving and advancing Batik culture, which supports income generation, especially for women, improving their quality of life. The city also aims to strengthen social, cultural, and economic infrastructures, foster innovation, and promote Batik locally and globally while encouraging environmentally friendly practices.

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Perth

City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2021

City presentation

Perth, a vibrant city in central Scotland with a population of nearly 160,000, thrives on industries such as farming, tourism, and low-carbon energy. The city boasts a rich cultural scene with two major theatres and international-standard museums, many highlighting local craft production. Perth College supports the creative sector with 650 students in culture-related fields. The city’s creative industry has grown, employing over 3,000 people with an annual GVA of USD 55,517 per job. Perth is also part of the Tay Cities Deal, which aims to invest in culture and innovation.
Key upcoming projects include the Perth City Hall Museum, focusing on crafts and folk art. The city plans to enhance its cultural footprint by fostering international collaborations, creating accessible spaces for artisans, engaging the public through workshops, and promoting sustainable tourism through a crafts and folk art trail.

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