DOZENS of key actors, activists and stakeholders involved in the relationship between culture, cities, development and citizens attended the first UCLG Culture Summit, held in Bilbao, Spain, on 18-20 March 2015. The first UCLG Culture Summit in Bilbao was also the meeting place of cities, networks, CSOs and civil and international institutions, which have tried to connect the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda with culture, especially in the process of defining the Sustainable Development Goals. The participants are also connected to the #culture2015goal and #UrbanSDG campaigns.
President of UCLG ASPAC, Governor Won delivered his remarks at the opening ceremony of UCLG Culture Summit 2015.
“Our Life is Culture”
UCLG ASPAC’s President Won Hee-ryong, who is also the Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province in the Republic of Korea, led a small group of his entourage to this cultural city of Bilbao in North Spain. The group consisted of Suh Myung-sook (President of Jeju Olle Foundation), Kim Hyun Min (Jeju’s Director of Cultural Policy Division), Lee Seungtaeck (Political Advisor to Jeju Governor), Hyun Mi Hwa (Assiatant Director of International Relations of Jeju Province), Kim Jeyon (Coordinator of International Relations), Chae Eunjoo (Coordinator of Cultural Affairs).
“Culture is becoming more recognized as fundamentally important to the enrichment of life. It is closely linked to both the local economy and identity of a region. Our life is culture,” said the UCLG ASPAC’s President in a statement ahead of his departure to Bilbao in mid March 2015.
“In this respect, it is timely that UCLG has organized this Culture Summit to discuss culture as a crucial element for the sustainability of cities. Every distinct culture gives strong voice to the identity of society and it is a driving force to stimulate the economy,” he added.
“As a global representative of local voice, I am pleased to attend the summit as the President of UCLG ASPAC to speak on behalf of our region’s diverse cultures. I wish for a successful event which will lead to greater acknowledgement about the importance of culture in local policy,” Governor Won concluded. (MH)
