I would like to offer my warm congratulations to the city of Jinju on the publication of its new global journal, the International Journal of Crafts and Folk Arts.

The international community is currently striving to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the current global development agenda that seeks to end poverty and other deprivations through improvements to health and education, the reduction of inequality, and the promotion of sustainable economic growth. Culture and creativity have a huge part to play in achieving the SDGs, in particular SDG 11, to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is a network for cities that have recognized creativity as a strategic factor in the sustainable development of safe, resilient urban environments, and offers a highly effective way for such cities to learn from each other how to leverage their culture and creativity.

The UCCN was launched in 2004 and now has 246 member cities in 85 UNESCO member states. Jinju joined the network in 2019, becoming one of 49 members in the craft and folk art field, and is now launching this new global journal for the craft and folk art creative field.

The International Journal of Crafts and Folk Arts will be a valuable new platform for sharing best practices in the UCCN, and offers a vital connection among Creative Cities particularly in this difficult time of COVID-19, when barriers have been raised in so many places.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Jinju for the launching of this new journal and I look forward to seeing it become the go-to magazine for the craft and folk art field and the UCCN.