Şanlıurfa hosts UNESCO Creative Cities Network Music Meeting

Şanlıurfa is hosting the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Annual Meeting for Music, bringing together representatives from approximately 30 countries across Asia, Europe, America, and Africa. The event, themed ‘In Search of the Roots of Music: From the Zero Point of History to the Modern World’, marks the first time this organization has been held in Turkey.

The opening program featured performances by pianist Nur Niran Pınar, soprano Nur Nilay Pınar, and artists from the Ankara State Opera and Ballet. During the ceremony, Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar handed over the UNESCO Music Cities Globe to the next host, Kansas City, USA.

Turkish Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı emphasized that Şanlıurfa is a vital center of human heritage due to its 12,000-year history, gastronomy, and musical traditions. He noted that the UNESCO network allows cities to preserve their unique identities while learning from one another and developing shared productions.