Creativity is not only an artistic expression, but a strategic competence, a driver of territorial development, and a tool for building the future.

This awareness is at the core of the Capacity Building project promoted by the Piedmont Region, which involves the three UNESCO Creative Cities in Piedmont – Turin, Alba and Biella – and sees BIA responsible for the design and implementation of the program for the City of Biella.

The project places young generations at its centre, focusing on training, skills exchange and on the creation of a new key figure for local territories: the UNESCO Creative Cities Ambassadors.

Established in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network recognizes the fundamental role of cultural and creative industries in sustainable urban development, from economic and social perspectives to cultural and environmental ones.

Cities that are part of the network integrate creativity into their territorial policies, transforming it into a driver of innovation, inclusion and growth.

In Piedmont, three cities belong to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network:

– Turin, UNESCO Creative City of Design since 2014
– Alba, UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2017
– Biella, UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2019

These are three distinct yet complementary identities, which over the years have built strong collaborations, sharing visions, practices and strategic projects.

The new Capacity Building program builds on previous experiences, including Creative Moments, The Colours of Creativity and Creativity Heals, funded by the Piedmont Region starting in 2022.

The objective is to strengthen cooperation among Piedmont’s Creative Cities, enhance their specific identities and develop a shared, replicable and transferable model capable of developing creative and project-based skills, promoting inter-cluster cooperation, actively engaging young people, and strengthening the role of UNESCO Creative Cities as drivers of sustainable development

Within this framework, BIA oversees the design and implementation of the Capacity Building program for the City of Biella, supporting the territory through a structured process of training, listening and co-design.

The program is conceived as a transformative experience, not merely an educational one: participants do not simply acquire knowledge, but develop a shared vision, a common language and an active sense of responsibility towards their city.

During the project, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, explore Biella’s specific role as a Creative City for Crafts and Folk Art, work in groups to develop a product or project capable of representing Biella internationally, and also become Young Ambassadors of the Creative City, acting as informed representatives of the territory at national and international level.

The project shared by Turin, Alba and Biella is aligned with the objectives outlined in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Mission Statement 2023, with particular attention to:

– strengthening cooperation among cities that recognise creativity as a strategic factor for development
– sharing experiences, knowledge and best practices
– building a structured and interconnected capacity building process
– training young people to use their skills creatively and responsibly
– creating a scalable, replicable and shareable model within the national and international Creative Cities network

The Capacity Building project represents a strategic investment in the future: training young people capable of interpreting their territory, telling its story and imagining new development trajectories.

For BIA, this initiative confirms an approach to cultural planning based on listening to local contexts, building shared processes, enhancing local skills and translating strategies into concrete actions.

A project that looks to the present, but above all to the future of UNESCO Creative Cities and the communities that inhabit them.