UNESCO Creative City of Music Daegu Global Forum 2024

The city of Daegu hosted the 2024 UNESCO Creative Cities of Music Daegu Global Forum from October 10 to 11, 2024.

Designated a UNESCO City of Music in October 2017, Daegu has organized an annual global forum and performances since 2018. This year’s forum, themed “Expanding Sustainable Global Partnerships for Cultural Cooperation,” included expert presentations, case studies from Creative Cities, cultural tours, and a special event commemorating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Italy.

The forum opened with a performance by the Daegu Metropolitan Korean Traditional Orchestra, conducted by Sang-il Han. The orchestra showcased traditional Korean music, featuring Hwaseonmu (a Korean dance), Dahyang (a solo performance on the daegeum, a traditional Korean bamboo flute), and a Pop Medley that highlighted the gayageum, a traditional Korean stringed instrument.

Following the performance, Giorgio Cavalieri, First Secretary of the Italian Embassy in Seoul, delivered a keynote speech to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Italy. Expert presentations followed by Li Jin, representative of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in China, and Daniele Vimini, Deputy Mayor of Pesaro, Italy. Representatives from UNESCO Creative Cities, including delegates from London, Canada, and Varaždin, Croatia, also presented city-specific case studies and engaged in discussions, strengthening the international cooperative vision among UNESCO Music Cities.

Special programs during the two-day event included a joint concert featuring three UNESCO Cities of Music – Daegu, Hannover (Germany), and Pesaro (Italy) – as well as cultural and artistic tours in Bukseongro and an invitation to the 21st Daegu International Opera Festival.

Before the forum on October 10, a Creative Cities workshop was held with 40 participants from both domestic and international UNESCO Creative Cities. The workshop aimed to identify practical methods for collaboration and strengthen partnerships among the cities.

Since 2018, Daegu has hosted this annual global music forum to explore new avenues for international cooperation and strengthen city-to-city partnerships. Moving forward, Daegu will continue to actively promote cultural and artistic exchanges with the global community, building on its collaborations with other Creative Cities worldwide.