Paducah representatives Mary Hammond, CDME, Executive Director of the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Bonnie Browning, Executive Show Director of the American Quilter’s Society, recently participated in the tenth annual meeting of the UNESCO Creative Cities’ Network (UCCN) in Östersund, Sweden.

Keynote speaker and moderator Dr. Charles Landry, a world-renowned expert in city planning, culture and development, presented new research entitled “Maximizing the Potential of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).”

“Every Annual Meeting of the Creative Cities Network represents an opportunity to strengthen the ties between its members,” said Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO. “The Network today comprises 116 cities in 54 countries and its diversity enhances its cooperation potential. The Network is a unique platform that helps place culture, creativity and innovation at the heart of sustainable urban development in the spirit of the 11th Goal of the 2030 Agenda.”

Paducah presented an invitation to the fellow UNESCO Creative Cities of Crafts & Folk Art to meet in Paducah in September 2017 to share strategies of incorporating the arts in building identity and strategic development. This first formally-designated annual meeting of the thematic area will be hosted by the City of Paducah in partnership with the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau, Paducah Economic Development and the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We are excited to host ambassadors from Creative Cities around the world in 2017,” said Mayor Gayle Kaler. “The relationships we have formed within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network have opened up doors into other cultures, promoted international cooperation and allowed us to expand and promote our own creative initiatives. We look forward to this unique opportunity for Paducah to showcase its innovations on a global platform.”

The Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) of Paducah McCracken County. The CVB exists to create new economic opportunities through destination marketing, management and tourism development. For more information, visit www.Paducah.Travel.

 

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Media Contact:

Laura Oswald, Marketing Director

Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau

E-mail: laura@paducah.travel