The Indonesian government has officially proposed Ponorogo Regency, following Malang City, to become part of the UNESCO-managed World Creative Cities Network (also known as the UNESCO Creative Cities Network or UCCN).
The UCCN is a flagship programme of UNESCO, launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities and towns that prioritise culture and creativity as strategic drivers of their development. Approximately 300 cities from around 90 countries have been accepted into the UCCN, including Bangkok, Havana, Saint Petersburg, London, and Cannes.
Judha Slamet Sarwo Edhie, Head of the Culture, Tourism, Youth, and Sports Office of Ponorogo Regency, confirmed the submissions of both Ponorogo and Malang for the UCCN’s consideration.
“Alhamdulillah [praise be to God], Ponorogo Regency, together with Malang City, was chosen to be submitted to UNESCO. Of course, this marks our long journey to becoming part of the world’s creative cities,” Edhie told the press on Thursday, 17th October.
Edhie also revealed that Ponorogo was previously submitted for consideration in 2023 but did not make the final cut as a new member of the UCCN.
“We reached the top six in 2023. At that time, Ponorogo Regency was eliminated while Surakarta and Depok proceeded to the next round. Indonesia later nominated Surakarta due to the city’s strong tradition of craft and folk art. Nevertheless, we never lost hope or gave up,” he continued.
A number of benefits can be obtained if Ponorogo and Malang are accepted as new members of the UCCN. These include opportunities to facilitate further cooperation between Indonesia and other countries, introduce local culture on the global stage, and stimulate economic growth in the local creative economy. Additionally, the art of Reog Ponorogo is currently being proposed as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
As of 2024, the Indonesian cities or regencies accepted as members of the UCCN are Jakarta, Surakarta, Ambon, Bandung, and Pekalongan.