ქართული
On October 31, 2023, Kutaisi officially joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a UNESCO city of Literature.
The Creative Cities program was created in 2004. Today, the network unified 350 cities worldwide, including 53 cities of literature to promote cities’ social, economic, and cultural progress.
UNESCO’s four-year status combines 3 main initiatives, including:
(1.) Kutaisi International Literature Festival: The city plans to launch this annual festival by spring 2025 as a pivotal initiative. It aims to accelerate literary processes, promote cultural diversity, and internationalize the city’s cultural landscape. By involving various social groups and institutional platforms, including actors from UCCN member cities, the festival will facilitate knowledge sharing and cultural exchange. The program will encompass public talks, a book fair, translation and digitalization projects, workshops, and events from different creative fields in conjunction with literature. The festival will utilize existing spaces across the city, such as museums, galleries, public libraries, universities, and independent cultural venues.
(2.) Educational and Project Support Program: In collaboration with the local public library network, the city will implement a comprehensive program to support education and projects. The main building of the Kutaisi Public Library which is going to renovation process currently, along with its branches, from the beginning of 2024 will serve as a vibrant cultural institution to facilitate this initiative. The program includes workshops and trainings for local actors in publishing, production, management, and for writers, editors, and translators. Experts from the UCCN network will be invited to facilitate the workshops. Additionally, a support scheme will be established to encourage project initiatives by local and national creative platforms and participants.
(3.) Cross-Sectoral Cooperation: The city aims to foster collaboration between literature and media arts, with a focus on digital humanities, creative innovation, and literary heritage. This initiative will involve institutions and platforms from UCCN member cities with designations in Literature and Media Arts, as well as local universities, the upcoming Digital Education Center, museums, and cultural organizations. Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia which hold UCCN designation in Media Arts, will be invited for cooperation and share its knowledge in order to help to promote cooperation between the cities on the national level.
During 2024 – 2028 These initiatives are designed to align with the Kutaisi Smart City Plan and Culture Development Strategy of the City based on global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), considering diverse social inclusion among participating stakeholders.