Glasgow Rocks as it Wins UNESCO City of Music Status
Almost 20 years after it held the title European Capital of Culture (1990), Glasgow has been confirmed as a UNESCO City of Music.
Today (20 August) in Glasgow the Director General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura awarded the title to Glasgow Lord Provost, Bob Winter, at a lunch that was also attended by Linda Fabiani MSP, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture in the Scottish Government.
Accepting the title from Mr Matsuura, Glasgow Lord Provost, Bob Winter, said, “It is wonderful to be accepting the UNESCO City of Music Award on behalf of Glasgow. I am thrilled that Glasgow’s rich and varied musical heritage has been recognised by UNESCO. We embrace the award on behalf of our talented musicians and composers whose work has contributed to our great city being given the permanent prestige of being a City of Music. I am confident this can only boost our musical ambitions and encourage and nurture future musical talent.”
The title sets the seal on Glasgow’s reputation for music, forged over many years when other monikers such as ‘Europe’s Secret Capital of Music’ (Time) have been bestowed by press in the know.
The bid to become a UNESCO City of Music was prepared by Glasgow City of Music based on the city’s:
- local, national and international importance as a musical centre;
- the historic and current importance of music to the city;
- the outstanding excellence of its musicians and practitioners;
- the depth, creativity and commitment of its policy both with regard to music itself, and also to music as a tool of social regeneration, improvement and education.
The bid stated that in a typical week, an impressive 127 music events are presented in Glasgow. Additionally, music generates an estimated £75m ($139m) to Glasgow's economy each year.
Following the successful bid, an organisation will be created within the city, the likes of which has not been seen before in the UK.
Glasgow City of Music (GCUM) “will function throughout the body of Glasgow’s music world to improve its health, maximise its performance and ensure it seizes every opportunity to advance.” Within the first year of receiving the title, GCUM aims to present a major event in Glasgow to celebrate the title and the city’s music. Check out www.seeglasgow.com for details of this event nearer the time, and numerous others – musical or otherwise.
Mr Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO, said, “The Creative Cities Network was launched in 2004 to promote the social, economic and cultural development of cities around the world. We at UNESCO believe that culture not only makes an economic contribution, it provides meaning, and a sense of identity and continuity that is integral to the life of all societies. That is why UNESCO has long been a leading advocate of increasing the role of culture in national development strategies.
“Announcing Glasgow’s appointment to the Creative Cities Network is the perfect way to end my two-day visit to Scotland and the beginning of what I am sure will be a very rich and fruitful partnership.”
Steven Purcell, Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, added, “We have a great asset in Glasgow’s music scene, but the UNESCO title will take appreciation of this to whole new levels.”
Glasgow Music Podcast
Glasgow’s legendary music scene stretches across the whole spectrum from contemporary and classical to Celtic and Country. Its venues are equally varied including King Tuts Wah Wah Hut (consistently voted the top live music venue in the UK), the Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom, Carling Academy and the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre – where all the world’s great contemporary rock and pop acts have performed – and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, City Halls and Theatre Royal, which are home to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Opera respectively.
The Glasgow music hall of fame is equally impressive, with, Franz Ferdinand, the Fratellis, Snow Patrol, Travis, Teenage Fanclub and Belle and Sebastian all hailing from the city, as well as newcomers Isosceles, Amy MacDonald and Glasvegas.
To sample some of what’s on offer in the city, visit:
or go to iTunes at: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=262953961
The Glasgow: City of Music, Cool Sounds and Art Rock podcast takes the listener on a journey of Glasgow’s music scene: past, present and future and is narrated by local actor/musician Sean Biggerstaff.
Divided into five distinct audio chapters, the 13-minute podcast encompasses interviews with musicians such as Teenage Fanclub drummer Francis MacDonald, members of the up and coming Attic Lights and Emma Pollock formerly of The Delgados and now embarking on a solo career.
Paul Savage from Chemikal Underground discusses how this Glasgow-based record label has been the launch pad for many of the city’s most exciting music talent while leading promoters Dave McGeechan of DF Concerts and Duncan Gray of CPL talk about the unique atmosphere of King Tuts and The Garage.
UNESCO Creative Cities
Glasgow joins only ten other cities as part of UNESCO’s world-wide Creative Cities Network.
The Creative Cities Network was launched by UNESCO in October 2004
It is designed to promote the social, economic and cultural development of cities in both the developed and the developing world. There are currently over 20 cities from all regions of the world waiting to be evaluated to join the Creative Cities Network. In order to qualify, cities need to demonstrate a strong creative pedigree in one of the following fields:
Literature
Cinema
Music
Craft and Folk Art
Design
Media Arts
Gastronomy
The Following cities currently enjoy UNESCO status:
Aswan (Craft and Folk Art)
Berlin (Design)
Bologna (Music)
Buenos Aires (Design)
Edinburgh (Literature)
Lyon (Media Arts)
Montreal (Design)
Popayan (Gastronomy)
Santa Fe (Craft and Folk Art)
Seville (Music)
Benefits:
This is not a prize but an opportunity. It is up to the city to make best use of the title, and it reports to UNESCO every 2 years on its achievements.
Once appointed, the city plugs into the global network to share opportunities with other Cities, and to nurture and promote its own creative scene. It can use its status to create new opportunities for itself and others globally.
City of Music status will give high profile, global recognition of Glasgow’s musical heritage, industry and potential. This level of acknowledgement will act as a focus and useful lever for all those involved in music and the music industry to develop future opportunities in Glasgow.
UNESCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – promotes international co-operation among its 193 Member States and six Associate Members in the fields of education, science, culture and communication.
Further information from:
Nancy McLardie – Head of PR
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Tel: +44 (0)141 566 0830