Chiang Mai To Apply For UNESCO Creative City Designation

[webfact]

Chiang Mai to apply for UNESCO Creative City designation

By Phitsanu Thepthong

Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul (3rd left) is joined by U.S. Consul General

Susan N. Stevenson (4th left) and members of the Chiang Mai Creative Committee

at a panel discussion on the upcoming UNESCO Creative City Network application

Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul and Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn recently submitted a letter of intent to join the UNESCO Creative City Network as a City of Crafts and Folk Arts with a strong emphasis on design and culture.

Governor Panadda said, “If the proposal is approved, then we will go full steam ahead on the Chiang Mai Creative Project.”

He said in the letter that they were in the process of setting up an Application Development Committee consisting of representatives from local government, the education sector, private industry as well as local community groups.

The Application Development Committee will work very closely with the Chiang Mai Creative City Development Committee that was set up last year to develop Chiang Mai’s creative industries and also apply creativity to urban and social development.

Chiang Mai is described as the second largest city of Thailand and was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lanna, which traces its history back to over 700 years ago. Chiang Mai is also a national and regional centre for education, administration, tourism, food, and agriculture, handicrafts, and design related activities.

“Because of Chiang Mai’s distinct Lanna culture, and rich cultural heritage, the city is consistently voted as a popular location, for tourism, living and retirement,” he said.

He noted Chiang Mai’s vibrant creative handicraft industries (jewelry, silverware, wood based crafts, decorative items, mulberry paper, celadon and other ceramics) functional design, architecture, software, and digital content. He added that Chiang Mai has many arts, crafts and design communities and spaces providing opportunities for collaboration and learning.

“We understand that normally a city is expected to select the category it wishes to apply for at this stage. We have narrowed it down to two options that we feel reflect Chiang Mai’s culture heritage, present strengths, and future aspiration. These are the Design category and the Crafts and Folk Arts category. We are planning to use the first phase of our proposal development process to review which option is appropriate and would also welcome discussions and guidance from you on this issue if this is possible,” a letter statement iterated.

The letter continued, “In many ways Chiang Mai is already doing the vital work of a UNESCO Creative City, but we are very keen to work with the other cities the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. This would give rise to a multitude of connections, projects, exchanges and conversations that would help to shape the future of the creative industries in our world.”

“We look forward to working with UNESCO during the application process and intend to submit our final application before the end of 2011,” he said in the letter to Mr Francessco Bandarin, Assistant Director-General for Culture and also Mr Georges Poussin, Chief of the Section of Creative Industries for Development, Culture Sector, UNESCO Headquarters, and Paris, France.

Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda said that “this creative city will be a very wonderful thing for Chiang Mai” at the panel discussion held on Chiang Mai Creative City (CMCC) on May 26, 2011.

A cocktail reception with the Governor, US Consul General, and other VIPs was held after the panel discussion at dusitD2 hotel in Chiang Mai and was attended by local business and academic leaders.

The Governor added that the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Culture had also given fully support to the Chiang Mai Creative City project. Noting that the gracious culture and peacefulness of Chiang Mai makes it stand apart from other cities in Thailand.

He added that the Chinese authorities had approved a plan to allow Lhin Ping to remain in Chiang Mai for another two years, noting the good news would be beneficial to the city.

For more information on the Chiang Mai Creative City project please go to www.creativechiangmai.com.

[chiangmaimail]2011-05-30[/chiangmaimail]

[jaltsc]

I believe he forgot to mention that Chiang Mai is also one of most prohibitive cities for people on foot to negotiate. Sidewalks that are a meter wide have utility poles placed right in the center. Forget about any tourists with disabilities (necessitating a wheel chair) enjoying all rich cultural heritage. I believe if Chiang Mai truly wants to become a "creative city" it must first be creative in modernizing its infrastructure to make it accessible to all people.

[OZEMADE]

I believe he forgot to mention that Chiang Mai is also one of most prohibitive cities for people on foot to negotiate. Sidewalks that are a meter wide have utility poles placed right in the center. Forget about any tourists with disabilities (necessitating a wheel chair) enjoying all rich cultural heritage. I believe if Chiang Mai truly wants to become a "creative city" it must first be creative in modernizing its infrastructure to make it accessible to all people.

I think this is also the same Governor that has forgotten to mention the deaths to them of the people at the Down Town Hotel. Still waiting to hear the outcome of the medical reports.

[Jobo]

Not only that but it needs to address the serious pollution resulting from the ever present burning and the dumping of trash and waste by the roadside in every district of the city.

I don't think there is a city in Thailand that is pedestrian friendly!