UNESCO Creative Cities Network

Namur has been recognised as a Creative City in the Digital Arts by UNESCO since 2021.

The City of Namur (https://www.namur.be), the capital of Wallonia in Belgium, is positioning itself as an intelligent city, aiming for sustainable development and human progress. Creativity and technological innovation are the driving forces behind Namur, which is working with a number of key players in the media and technology fields to back up its policy of supporting the creative industry. The dynamics developed within the participatory framework of ‘Namur Confluent Culture’ have enabled artistic and cultural development that brings citizens together.

Since its creation in 2011, the KIKK Festival (https://www.kikk.be), an international festival of digital and creative cultures exploring the intersections between art, science and technology, has put Namur on the international map as a city of digital creativity.

The City has entrusted the KIKK with the management of the Pavillon (formerly the Belgian pavilion at the 2015 Milan Universal Exhibition), which is located on the historic site of the Citadelle of Namur. This modern showcase houses a large museum space exploring the intersections between art, science, technology and society (https://www.le-pavillon.be/), and it could be said that the Pavilion is to the Citadelle what the Pyramid is to the Louvre.

Namur is a forerunner in technological innovation, thanks to its ecosystem of academics, industrialists and institutions that are actively involved in transforming Namur into an innovative region.

A pioneer in computer sciences, the University of Namur, located in the heart of the city, joined forces with the Economic Office of the Province of Namur, the KIKK association and the city in 2014 to set up an ERDF programme, the Namur Innovative City Lab, a project for the digital and sustainable transformation of its territory based on the creativity of its citizens, artists and entrepreneurs.

In addition to major structuring projects, Namur Innovative City Lab has led to the creation of a creative hub, a Fab Lab and a Media Lab at the TRAKK (https://www.trakk.be), which now brings together a creative ecosystem of entrepreneurs, students and artists focusing on the ICC sector and emerging technologies (studios creating interactive installations, digital and creative agencies, architects, etc.).

The City of Namur is therefore part of a global digital transformation, democratising access for the general public to innovation, digital technologies and the digital arts.

Added value:

To enhance its status as a Creative City of Media Arts, Namur will focus on the following priorities:

Strengthening research, creation, production, management and circulation of digital arts and other creative sectors in the city;

Building on existing initiatives to link them to the international scene; and

Enabling Network member cities to benefit from an exchange of experience and know-how.