Adelaide becomes UNESCO Music City

Image: Adelaide-born singer-songwriterSia

Adelaide has been successful in its bid to become an UNESCO City of Music, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova announced in Paris. It is the first Australian city to do so, and can share ideas and projects with other Music Cities.

Also announced as new Music Cities were Liverpool (UK), Kingston (Jamaica), Varanasi (India), Salvador (Brazil), Idanha-a-Nova (Portugal), Katowice (Poland), Medellín (Colombia), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Tongyeong (Republic of Korea). They join Bologna (Italy), Bogota (Colombia), Hannover (Germany), Seville (Spain), Ghent (Belgium) Glasgow (Scotland), Hamamatsu (Japan), Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo) and Mannheim (Germany).

SA Arts Minister Jack Snelling hailed it as a global recognition of Adelaide’s reputation “as a city of vibrant music culture. We have internationally renowned classical ensembles, strong programs for music in education and a thriving live music scene that is helping to discover the next Cold Chisel or AC/DC,” he said.

“Our music and arts industry operate internationally so a global outlook is necessary for future growth in the industry.”

Minister Snelling cited examples as the Adelaide Festival Centre’s program of Asian engagement, global tie-ups by the Adelaide International Guitar Festival (it is currently developing an exchange problem with Seville), overseas acclaim for WOMADelaide and Adelaide Festival, and global tours by bands and arts groups.

Adelaide Festival Centre CEO and Artistic Director Douglas Gautier called the UNESCO gong proof that Adelaide punches above its weight and forecast it would lead to greater collaborations with global players.

“Adelaide is a great place for making and enjoying music. It has a strong music infrastructure and tradition. This UNESCO recognition will help grow our reputation as one of the world’s significant creative cities. Our city is an exciting and innovative community for musicians and music lovers and we look forward to building on that momentum, via our participation and utilisation of international linkages that Adelaide’s inclusion as a UNESCO City of Music, will bring.”

The 19 Music Cities are part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, which covers seven fields – craft & folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature and media arts. Launched in 2004 and now comprising 116 Member Cities, the Network aims to “foster international cooperation with and between cities committed to investing in creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development, social inclusion and cultural vibrancy.”

Adelaide had to prove a strong background in music-making, education and community involvement, diversity in music and success in launching world talent.

Pitching for global status is the latest in the South Australian Government’s strategy of growing the music sector by integrating it with economic, business and technology development. Aside from creating global music links, it will also boost tourism and global investment to the state.

Music SA’s General Manager Lisa Bishop advised TMN, “Music SA looks forward to working collaboratively with business, government and arts organizations to capitalize on this announcement and aim for more jobs for musicians, bigger audiences, thriving venues and increased tourists.

“We have plans for a major winter activation program involving live music. We are looking forward to building new audiences for contemporary original SA artists and getting people out of their houses during the cold spree. I’m thrilled with the announcement and I believe it is well deserved from a contemporary music perspective considering that on average we see over 950 live music gigs a month in over 150 venues just in the city and outer suburbs.”

The UNESCO application was put together by Sarah Bleby, Executive Producer of the Adelaide International Guitar Festival. Involved in the pitch were the SA Government, Adelaide City Council, the Music Development Office, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Conservatory of Music and WOMAD. The first Music City, Seville, also supported the bid.

“Having the support of Seville was clearly of invaluable help in our bid,” admitted Minister Snelling, who in September lead a delegation to Spain to hold discussions with the Secretary General for Culture María del Mar Alfaro and Seville Guitar Festival Artistic Director Francisco Bernier.

The first Australian city declared a UNESCO Creative City was Melbourne, which became a City of Literature in 2008. Sydney followed in 2010 as a Creative City of Film. Australia is now on par with the US in having three Creative Cities.

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.