IPOH – What does Ipoh’s listing in the Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN) mean to the city?
On November 1, Perak’s capital joined 350 other cities in the UCCN list as a Creative City of Music – the second city in Malaysia to be listed after Kuching in Sarawak, which was listed in 2021 as a City of Gastronomy.
UCCN Music Cities and International Advisor of Cities on Culture and Music Strategies coordinator Rainer Kern said the long-term benefit of having such a title is very individual and depends on what each city does with it.
“In general, the title can work as an accelerator for the development of the music sector, as a unifying factor and one that promotes social, cultural and economic structures,” said Kern, when asked how this listing has benefitted other creative cities of music.
“I have seen cities that have made something out of it, and some where nothing has happened,” he said.
“Some cities use the title just for their stationery, and others use the moment for real development, and this needs a strategy that has well-defined goals.
“Without knowing where you want to go, without knowing the goal, you cannot implement a successful strategy,” he said, adding that Ipoh must now seize the momentum and work hard and purposefully.
“There will be cynics over this listing, something I have observed all over the world, and being cynical is the easiest and cheapest form of comment, mostly about things you don’t understand. It’s boring,” said Kern.
“Like Ipoh, nobody ever expects much of the so-called ‘second cities,’ also because they are usually little or not at all known, but if you look at these cities from the inside, as I did with Ipoh, you see and recognise the potential,” said Kern.
“I was in Ipoh in March and was able to get a good overview of the city and communicate with the people involved, and I am very enthusiastic and think that this city has the facilities, drive and committed team players needed for the development of its music and creative industry,” he said, pinpointing strong support from its mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin, and what he described as a highly competent PORT (People Of Remarkable Talents) organisation.
PORT is a cultural agency that is fully funded by the Perak government. Its main objective is to provide opportunities, especially for the state’s youth from all backgrounds, to develop their talents in the arts and creative fields – with the motto “Unity Thru Arts”.
Kern, who is also an international expert for networks, and cultural and creative economies, said: “Ipoh’s strengths are its functioning institutions and committed musicians, which will help boost the city’s potential to become an engine of growth for the local and regional music industries.”
“Smart and serious strategies which will make Ipoh a model and example for good development indicators should be the focus,” he said.
Understanding on how the cultural and creative economy works differently to the big economy is still low globally, said Kern, adding that a lot of hopes are placed in cultural and creative industries, but often little is achieved with wrong or poor implementation of strategies.
“Tools and strategies in place need far-sightedness, a wealth of knowledge, courage and out-of-the-box thinking,” he said adding that this was the biggest challenge – which if done right, will be very beneficial for Ipoh, the country and the region.
A copy-paste of other strategies will not work, Rainer added, saying the best way forward is the formulation of a tailor-made approach. – November 5, 2023
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