Creative Cities: Experience of Türkiye in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network

The creative economy has become instrumental for the development of cities. In this respect, the ‘European Capital of Culture’ in the EU, as well as the global ‘Creative Cities Network’ of UNESCO, are initiatives that promote the creative economy. Nowadays, as a consequence of international calls and practices, the agenda in urban areas comprises the development of the creative economy, the site selection of industries, and the attraction of the creative workforce by means of various urban design practices as well as innovative planning approaches and policies. To discuss the contribution of the creative economy in urban development, this study focuses on the outcomes of the workshop titled ‘UNESCO Creative Cities and Experience of Türkiye’, which was held on 8 December 2022 in the ‘Urban Development Workshops’ action group as part of the Taskisla Design LAB project sponsored by the Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA). The specific experiences of Turkish cities in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN) help to confirm the various achievements ensured by creative-economy-based practices.