The UNESCO Cities of Music are a group of over fifty cities across the world renowned internationally for being centers of music creation, industry, and education. As of Monday, London is the latest city to be added to the group.
London is Canada’s first City of Music and forth addition to the wider Creative Cities Network, following Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City as cities of Media Arts, Design, and Literature, respectively. The designation elevates London’s position as a center for the music industry both nationally and internationally, and helps to recognize the educational facilities and musical infrastructure that London provides.
The City of London, together with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is proud to announce that the London has been designated a UNESCO City of Music. #LdnOnt is Canada’s first city to receive this designation. pic.twitter.com/X3eBxZ84dl
— City of London (@CityofLdnOnt) November 8, 2021
Cory Crossman is London’s Music Industry Development Officer —a position he’s held since it’s creation in 2015— and says that the designation is an affirmation of the talent and industry London has created over decades.
It’s just incredible in perspective. You think about how big this is: London Ontario is a leader in music cities in the work that’s being done. So what this means is that we’re working with other communities. We’re working with the UNESCO Creative City Network in the 295 cities that are within that across 90 countries. We’re working with these partners to build a strong arts industry and community.
For Crossman, London’s designation is as much a personal joy as it is a victory for the music industry in London. It’s been a three-year-long journey for London’s application, and Crossman describes the sensation of waiting to see if it would be approved like a Christmas morning:
We had no idea, and the fact that we hadn’t been in contact, I kind of thought we might not be getting it. So the night before, instead of getting up at my normal time, I thought ‘oh, I’ll get up at four A.M. for this announcement.’ And as I was lying there in bed, I was like ‘don’t jinx it. Just get up at a normal time. What are you going to do at four o’clock in the morning?’ And so coming down, it felt like a Christmas morning kind of thing, coming downstairs to grab my phone and look at all the people congratulating me already.
Moving forward, London’s designation will be seeing the city’s music industry grow even further. In January, Crossman plans for London to start announcing new music industry projects, as well as begin putting in policy changes to help develop and nurture artists, songwriters, engineers, and producers in London. Member cities of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network also commit to leading the charge toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at local levels.
Later this month, London will continue being a host to Canada’s music industry as host for the Canadian Country Music Association’s 2021 Country Music Week, culminating with the 2021 CCMA Awards at Budweiser Gardens on Monday, November 29.
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