The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, designated Brazzaville (Republic of Congo), Zahlé (Lebanon), Kraków (Poland) and Fabriano (Italy) as new members of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network. As a result of those new appointments, the Creative Cities Network now comprises 38 cities from all regions of the world.

Zahlé joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the categories of Gastronomy.

In accordance with the mission statement of the Creative Cities programme, the new members commit to strengthening participation in cultural life -- through fostering access to the creation and enjoyment of cultural activities, goods and services, promoting creativity and creative expressions, and integrating cultural and creative industries into local development.