Kansas City, Missouri is a UNESCO City of Music and a member of UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
In November 2017, the City of Kansas City, Missouri, became a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities
Network (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and was designated the first and only Creative City of Music in the U.S. On November 6, 2017, Ms. Irina Bokova, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), informed the City of Kansas City, Missouri that the City’s application to be recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Music was accepted.
Creative City KC is a nonprofit organization created to support and sustain the UNESCO Creative City of Music membership for Kansas City, Missouri.
The Museum of Kansas City has been a key program partner to Creative City KC since 2017. Music plays a prominent role in Kansas City’s history and cultural heritage, and the Museum has been designed to offer performances and concerts featuring Kansas City-based musicians and performing artists.
Over the past several years, Museum staff have participated in conversations and initiatives in collaboration with Creative City KC and UNESCO Creative Cities internationally. Programs, meetings, and recordings have taken place at the Museum to advance and promote Kansas City as a City of Music. The Museum Sessions is a digital series of music that explores the sounds and stories of Kansas City one song at a time. All recordings take place at the Museum.
In addition, UMKC’s Center for Neighborhoods and Creative City KC are the primary partners for developing the exhibit concept and content for A Cultural & Community Restoration gallery on the third floor of Corinthian Hall. Cultural institutions and museums are important partners for UNESCO Creative Cities, and The Museum of Kansas City is proud to be involved in supporting Kansas City as a City of Music and encourages more museums to get involved.