UNESCO International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Roads 2 (Funded to China)

UNESCO, in collaboration with the National Commission of People’s Republic of China for UNESCO, is pleased to invite young women and men from countries along the maritime and terrestrial Silk Roads to participate in the International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Roads 2, to be held in Changsha and Nanjing, 21-27 May 2018.

The International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Roads 2 is being organized in follow-up to and building on the success of the International Youth Forum: Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Roads (IYF) which was held in Changsha and Quanzhou, 17-22 April 2017.  During this first IYF, 84 international youth delegates between the ages of 18-30 from 65 countries along the Silk Roads were exposed to a range of creative and cultural heritage experiences, presentations, and engaged in discussions on how youth can become more engaged in the cultural and creative industries and in protecting and promoting our common cultural heritage.

The second edition IYF2 will be held in Changsha, 21-23 May 2018, focusing on the theme of “Advancing Creativity for Development”.  Participants will then move onto Nanjing, 24-27 May 2018, to participate in the “Creativity and Literature Forum”. Approximately 80 delegates are expected to participate in IYF2; 40 from Silk Roads countries in Africa, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe, and 40 delegates from China.

The objectives of this International Youth Forum (a.k.a. IYF2) are to:

1.      Provide a forum for young people working in creativity, literature, and heritage to voice their interests and concerns on advancing work in their field

2.      Mobilize their increased engagement in literature, cultural and creative industries and in the protection and promotion of our common heritage.

Participants

• A total of 80 young women and men aged 18-30 from more than 60 countries along the terrestrial and maritime Silk Roads are expected to participate in the International Youth Forum.
• 30 delegates who are already skilled in the creative arts from Silk Roads countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe, will be invited to IYF2.
• A further 10 international participants selected to participate in the “Experience Changsha Media Arts Program”, as well as 40 delegates from China will join the IYF2.
• Prospective participants will be invited to apply for selection to attend the IYF via a number of different networks and channels, including those of UNESCO.
• Successful candidates will be selected based on objective criteria such as years of experience implementing projects in the cultural and creative industries or in heritage protection or safeguarding. In order to ensure equal representation, gender considerations will also factor into the selection process.

Senior Officials from the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and other leading figures will also be invited to deliver short and dynamic presentations on the themes of Advancing Creativity for Development and Creativity and Literature.  Members of the China National Commission for UNESCO will participate in the IYF2 as well as staff of UNESCO based at the Beijing Office and Headquarters in Paris.

1. Detailed Arrangements for the IYF Week

Dates and venues:

21 – 23 May 2018: Changsha, Hunan Province, China.

24 – 27 May 2018: Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China

Themes:

The themes of the Forum will focus on two main areas:

1. Advancing Creativity for Development;
2. Creativity and Literature

Modalities:

The Forum is envisioned as a dynamic and participatory event utilizing a combination of panel discussions, parallel sessions and field visits.

Languages:

Simultaneous interpretation Chinese/English will be provided during plenary meetings and training workshops.

For More Information: