2026 | Namur, UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts, showcased in a video

Since 2021, Namur has been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of Media Arts. It is the only Belgian city to have received this recognition in this field. The City of Namur’s International Relations Office, which acts as the Network’s focal point, has produced a three-minute video bringing together partners from its ecosystem: cultural, academic, business and institutional stakeholders who foster dialogue between creativity, research, education and innovation.

The video is also subtitled in French and English, the two official languages of UNESCO, and is accompanied by a redesigned website.

This video is yours: use it in your communications, share it on your social media channels and help showcase Namur’s creativity!

From academic research to festivals, from video games to computer music, and from business support to thinking about the smart city, the video showcases the diversity of partners contributing to Namur’s creative energy:

KIKK Festival: an international festival of digital and creative cultures.
Le Pavillon: the former Belgian pavilion at Expo Milano 2015, managed by KIKK and serving as a key venue for digital cultures.
TRAKK: an accelerator for managerial, digital and sustainable transitions, supporting project developers and businesses in the local area.
University of Namur (UNamur): conducts interdisciplinary research into digital challenges, from artificial intelligence to wider societal issues.
Haute École Albert Jacquard (HEAJ): its Creative and Digital Industries department offers training in video games, transmedia architecture and graphic design.
Institut Royal Supérieur de Musique et de Pédagogie (IMEP): trains musicians and music educators in disciplines ranging from singing to computer music.
Grand Manège – Namur Concert Hall: a concert venue housed in a former military riding school, dedicated to classical music, jazz and world music.
Le Delta: a multidisciplinary cultural venue bringing together theatre, dance, music and visual arts.
Prisme: brings together Théâtre de Namur and Centre culturel de Namur to foster artistic creation and support artists.
Namur International French-Language Film Festival (FIFF): a festival dedicated to French-language cinema, with a strong focus on innovation and audiovisual creativity.
Namur en Mai: a festival dedicated to street arts.
NID (Namur Intelligente et Durable): a space for exploring the city of tomorrow, with a focus on smart, sustainable and citizen-centred urban development.

Charlotte Bazelaire, Acting Mayor of the City of Namur, explains: “A city on a human scale and open to the world, Namur makes creativity a driving force for innovation and encounters. I invite you to discover this unique ecosystem at the heart of our city.”

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network: what is it?

The Network brings together 408 cities in more than 100 countries, across eight creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature, Music and Architecture. Of these, 27 cities have been recognised in the field of Media Arts. These cities use creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development: they share experiences, build partnerships and develop joint projects at both local and international levels.

A new website to showcase Namur’s creative ecosystem

The rvcunamur.be website has been designed as a gateway to Namur’s UNESCO Creative City initiative: a showcase for its partners and a tool to foster collaboration, both in Namur and across the Network. Visitors can explore the video, discover the city’s ambitions and meet the partners in its ecosystem. The site also features a directory, which will continue to grow, helping users identify creative stakeholders across the local area. Available in French and English, it caters to local audiences as well as cities throughout the Network.es acteurs créatifs du territoire. Disponible en français et en anglais, il s’adresse aussi bien au public local qu’aux villes du réseau.

To find out more about Namur, UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts, visit https://www.rvcunamur.be/en/home/