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Paducah Ambassadors Invite UNESCO Cities of Crafts and Folk Art to Region

James Chen, Jingdezhen, City of Crafts & Folk Art, courtesy of Paducah CVB

Representatives from UNESCO Cities of Crafts and Folk Art will meet in Paducah next September. This will be the first formally-designated annual meeting of the thematic area. 

Paducah Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Mary Hammond and American Quilter's Society Executive Show Director Bonnie Browning made a formal invitation at the recent 10th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Creative Cities Network gathering in Östersund, Sweden in September. 

The goal will be to develop strategies of incorporating the arts into identity and strategic development. Laura Oswald of the Paducah CVB said great interest was expressed with the intention to participate and details will be finalized as the 2017 date nears.

Paducah Mayor Gayle Kaler said in a release she looks forward to the opportunity for Paducah to showcase its innovations on a global platform.

The network consists of 116 cities in 54 countries and is designed to strengthen creative and cultural ties between members. There are 20 cities in the Crafts and Folk Art area.

Paducah joined the United Nations organization in 2013.

More on the UNESCO efforts

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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