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Braga, UNESCO Creative City for Media Arts
Published on 09 March 2022
José Reis
HEI Technician
About this good practice
In the last decades of the twentieth century, Braga witnessed the birth of a new generation of artists, professionals, and entrepreneurs.
Media Arts are the result of the intersection between creativity and technology. It is at the intersection of art, science, technology, and innovation that Media Arts occur, coming to life in various manifestations.
Today Media Arts play a central role in Braga's urban, economic and cultural development and are part of its renewal strategy. They are the fastest-growing sector of the city's creative economy and a common field of work and opportunities for artistic and professional local institutions.
Braga Media Arts actions:
- Circuito – Serviço Educativo Braga Media Arts: Promotion of learning and experimentation in the field of Media Arts, in different degrees of teaching and research areas, in order to develop the talent, knowledge, and creativity of future generations.
- Bienal Internacional de Media Arts “índex”: stage for local, national, and international artists, which reflects in its programming the dimensions of thought, performance, exhibition, and education.
- Media Arts Centre to welcome artists, researchers, students, companies, and startups in the area of Media Arts.
- Promotion of the exchange of ideas at the international level, as well as the production of knowledge and the search for business opportunities at the crossroads between art, science, technology, and the community.
Etc.
Media Arts are the result of the intersection between creativity and technology. It is at the intersection of art, science, technology, and innovation that Media Arts occur, coming to life in various manifestations.
Today Media Arts play a central role in Braga's urban, economic and cultural development and are part of its renewal strategy. They are the fastest-growing sector of the city's creative economy and a common field of work and opportunities for artistic and professional local institutions.
Braga Media Arts actions:
- Circuito – Serviço Educativo Braga Media Arts: Promotion of learning and experimentation in the field of Media Arts, in different degrees of teaching and research areas, in order to develop the talent, knowledge, and creativity of future generations.
- Bienal Internacional de Media Arts “índex”: stage for local, national, and international artists, which reflects in its programming the dimensions of thought, performance, exhibition, and education.
- Media Arts Centre to welcome artists, researchers, students, companies, and startups in the area of Media Arts.
- Promotion of the exchange of ideas at the international level, as well as the production of knowledge and the search for business opportunities at the crossroads between art, science, technology, and the community.
Etc.
Resources needed
Financing of the municipality of Braga and the business ecosystem.
The global investment of the city in culture reached 9.1 million euros over the last 5 years. Investment in Media Arts activities has been increasing up to EUR 2.9 million, almost a third of the budget for culture.
The global investment of the city in culture reached 9.1 million euros over the last 5 years. Investment in Media Arts activities has been increasing up to EUR 2.9 million, almost a third of the budget for culture.
Evidence of success
Media Arts are a key growth factor for the creative economy of the city of Braga: since 2009 the technological, digital and multimedia sector has grown six times in number of businesses, representing half of the jobs in the creative sector and generating 350 thousand euros in business volume. It is based on these figures and an ever-growing community of artists and cultural agents that we look at the benefits that the UNESCO designation brings to the communities that make up the city of Braga.
Potential for learning or transfer
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The 246 cities which currently make up this network work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.
Joining the Network enhances the city’s creative potential for sustainable urban development, exchange know-how, and cooperation on an international level.
Joining the Network enhances the city’s creative potential for sustainable urban development, exchange know-how, and cooperation on an international level.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Organisation
Instituto Politécnico do Porto
Portugal
Norte
Contact
José Reis
HEI Technician