Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCreative Cities Network Application RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE APPLICATION BY THE PADUCAH VISITORS BUREAU TO THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO) FOR RECOGNITION AS A CREATIVE CITY IN THE AREA OF FOLK ARTS AND SEEKING THE APPOINTMENT OF PADUCAH AS A MEMBER OF THE UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES NETWORK WHEREAS, Paducah has achieved international significance as a city that promotes the diversity of cultural expressions and develops creative industries; and WHEREAS, Paducah is home to The National Quilt Museum of the United States (NQS), the largest Quilt Museum in the world. Quilts in the Museum's permanent collection are made by quilters from throughout the nation, representing most of the fifty states and a number of foreign countries. The Museum averages 40,000 visitors per year from all fifty states and twenty five foreign countries; and WHEREAS, The American Quilter's Society annual Quilt Show Contest draws more than 30,000 national and international visitors each April during this four day event; and WHEREAS, Paducah has become a destination for visitors seeking creative tourism experiences, particularly in the fiber arts; and WHEREAS, Paducah offers a variety of creative experiences that include the National Quilt Museum AQS workshops, whose combined offerings boast nearly 5,000 registrants, and other hands -on workshops conducted by local artists and artisans; and WHEREAS, The foundations for Paducah's interest in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network is UNESCO's theme of cities helping cities through cross cultural engagement; and WHEREAS, Paducah has created an environment where the arts and artists flourish, which is evident in the Artist Relocation Program, which boasts more than fifty artists working, living and creating in the LowerTown Arts District. A key ingredient for the success of creative cities is the creation of public private partnerships that help unlock the entrepreneurial and creative potential of small enterprises which play an important role in industrial restructuring; and WHEREAS, The City of Paducah believes in the power of the creative industries to both inform the present and transform the future of our community. With the City's support, West Kentucky Community Technical College has added a Paducah School of Art to their curriculum, where imagination and creativity are essential in all subject matter areas, and are increasingly understood as critical capacities needed for success in the 21 century workforce; and WHEREAS, Paducah offers a variety of creative experiences that include the National Quilt Museum American Quilter's Society workshops, whose combined offerings boast nearly 5,000 registrants annually, and hands -on workshops conducted by local artists and artisans. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF PADUCAH, KENTUCKY: SECTION 1. That the City of Paducah affirms its position in support of this application to UNESCO for recognition as a Creative City and seeking the appointment of Paducah as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. SECTION 2. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption. Mayor ATTEST: jekrYlinlakti 5 )31,0/C Tammara S. Brock, City Clerk Adopted by the Board of Commissioners, September 22, 2009 Recorded by Tammara S. Brock, City Clerk, September 22, 2009 \resoln \Creative Cities Network Application