City of Crafts and Folk Arts

UNESCO's City of Crafts and Folk Arts project is part of the wider Creative Cities Network, founded in 2004, which designates cities worldwide that have made unique contributions to the field of crafts and folk arts.

The current designated Cities of Crafts and Folk Arts of UNESCO are: CityCountryYearNotesAl-Ahsa2015Ancient tradition of handicrafts, including textiles from palm trees, pottery, weaving, and joinery.Andenne2025Medieval traditions of ceramics such as the blanche derle, thanks to the rich clay subsoils of the Mosan Valley.Areguá2019Known for its pottery, home to 450 pottery workshops.Aswan2005Heritage of crafts and folk arts, including beadwork, tablecloth production, palm branch and leaf creations, as well as clay and needle-work products. Ayacucho2019Known for its various crafts such as retablo, tapestry, Huamanga stone carving, pottery, textiles and embroidery.Baguio2017Varied traditions in weaving, woodcarving, silver crafting, and tattooing and tattoo art.Ballarat2019Historical and modern reputation as a melting pot for various forms and traditions of Indigenous Australian art.Bamyan2015Unique history of crafts influenced by Muslim and Buddhist cultures that are still practiced in the area today.Bandar Abbas2019History of creative arts such as practical and marine crafts, local clothing, and local musical instruments.Barcelos2017Origin of the famous Rooster of Barcelos.Biella2019History of wool manufacturing and textile manufacturing. Bobo-Dioulasso2025Important hub for masks and textiles, such as Koko dunda.Bukhara2023Known for its golden embroidery, ceramics, jewellery, and woodwork.Cairo2017Ancient history of specializing in pottery, glassblowing, coppersmith, ceramic and jewelry.Caldas da Rainha2019Center of ceramic production.Carrara2017World-renowned white marble that has influenced Carrara's development as a center of crafts in Tuscany and in Italy.Castelo Branco2023Known for its distinctive embroidery.Cheongju2025Famous for its ceramics, metalworks and papercrafts, and the provenance of Jikji, the world's oldest known printed book.Chiang Mai2017History as a trade center and a region of cultural diversity that has influenced a craft culture of pottery, silverwork, woodcarving, silk embroidery, and lacquerware.Chordeleg2017Unique precious metal work, footwear manufacturing, pottery, and toquilla straw weaving that has been passed down through generations through oral tradition.Durán2015Long history of syncretism between urban art and murals and traditional Ecuadorian art and craft.Echizen2025Known for the local production of handmade paper (washi), kitchen knives and chests of drawers.UNESCO. (2025). Echizen City. UNESCO Creative Cities Network. https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/echizen-cityFabriano2013Status as a center for crafts such as pottery, weaving, blacksmithing, and paper making since the 12th century.Faenza2025Internationally renowned for its historic ceramics tradition, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, sustainable innovation and international cultural exchange.Gabrovo2017One of the largest craft centers in Bulgaria, specifically in woodcarving and wool weaving.Hangzhou2012Ancient history of silk and tea production, as well as porcelain and bronze sculptures, known as China's Tea Capital. Hebron2025Renown for its pottery, ceramics, blown glass, embroidery and stone carving traditions.UNESCO. (2025). Hebron. UNESCO Creative Cities Network. https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/hebronHöhr-Grenzhausen2025Hub for the Kannenbäckerland ceramic-producing cultural landscape.UNESCO. (2025). Höhr-Grenzhausen. UNESCO Creative Cities Network. https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/hohr-grenzhausenHội An2023Known for Bài chòi, a folk artform combining dance, theatre and song.Icheon2010Historical and modern status as the center of Korea's ceramic and pottery crafting.Isfahan2015Various crafts including carpet weaving, metalwork, woodwork, ceramics, painting and inlay works of various kinds.Jacmel2014Traditions of painting, sculpture-making, and giant papier-mâché masks, as well as the place of origin of the Jacmel painting school in Haitian art.Jaipur2015Historical crafts of jewelry making, carving, and painting that have been a center of trade since the early 18th century, with 53,500 workshops practicing these crafts today.Jingdezhen2014Called the "Porcelain Capital" for its ancient history of porcelain work.Jinju2019History of wooden furniture-making, ornamental knife-making, metal crafts and silk.João Pessoa2017Unique production of cotton fabric, as well as production of pottery, embroidery, and crochet.Kanazawa2009Samurai-inspired arts culture, unique craftwork such as the kaga-yuzen silk dying technique.Kargopol2019Traditional textile embroidery, artisanal wood and bark carving, and clay-fired colored figures known as Kargopol toys, all of which form the most important sector of the city's economy today.Kütahya2017Unique art of ceramic çini making which dominates the city's landscape.Limoges2017History of ceramics, enamel, and glass-making, as well as a more recently founded porcelain industry.Lubango2025Famous for the production of samakaka textiles and nonkako sandals.UNESCO. (2025). Lubango. UNESCO Creative Cities Network. https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/lubangoLubumbashi2015Unique copper and malachite crafts created in the city, with over 50 workshops dedicated to malachite carving.Madaba2017Largest number of mosaics discovered in their original location in the world, including its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics and the oldest-surviving description of the Holy Land.Masaya2025Known as a center for the production of textiles, and for hosting the longest traditional arts and crafts festival in the country.UNESCO. (2025). Masaya. UNESCO Creative Cities Network. https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/masayaMontecristi2023Famous for the production of handwoven toquilla hats.Nan2025Nan is famous for its intricate traditional weaving (notably the Teen Chok and Lai Nam Lai patterns), silver craftsmanship, and traditional woodcarving.Nassau2014Bahamian cultural and creative traditions of straw weaving and Junkanoo craftmaking formed from a blend of Indigenous and African cultural traditions.Ouagadougou2017Traditional craft of bronze and copper casting and crafting that forms a major sector of the city's economy even today.Paducah2013History and contributions to the craft of quilt making in the United States.Pekalongan2014Cultural history and importance of Batik crafts and cloths to the city and its identity.Perth2021Craft is an integral part of this area’s history. Mediaeval Perth was a centre of craft production and trade. By the early 1500s, Perth was known as a ‘Craftis Toun’. This reputation has stayed with the region throughout the centuries, and today there is still a thriving and reputable Craft and Folk Art sector. Ponorogo2025Known for its traditional Reog Ponorogo dance.UNESCO. (2025). Ponorogo. UNESCO Creative Cities Network. https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/ponorogoPorto-Novo2017History and unique practice of various crafts such as wickerwork, blacksmithing, pottery, and manufacturing of musical instruments in the city, with 42 historical craft guilds in the city.Safi2025Traditionally established pottery tradition and home to the National Museum of Ceramics.UNESCO. (2025). Safi. UNESCO Creative Cities Network. https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/safiSan Cristobal de Las Casas2015Preservation of Indigenous Mexican crafts and arts such as embroidery, pottery, blacksmithing, woodcarving, and amber craftmaking.Santa Fe2005Native American crafts of jewelry, pottery, and weaving and the trade fairs in these crafts that have become an integral part of the city's identity, as well as Spanish colonial art such as folk dance, straw applique, and tinwork.Santa Marta2018Site of almost 12 ancient Caribbean cultures, known for their Wayúu handcrafts and Tayrona handmade gold pieces.Sarchí2025Famous for its colorful arts and crafts and their applications in the local agriculture, for example in traditionally crated ox carts.UNESCO. (2025). Sarchí. UNESCO Creative Cities Network. https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/sarchiSharjah2019Traditional craft of "Talli" weaving.Sheki2017Status as the center of silk production and textiles in the Caucasus, as well as other traditional crafts such as wood-framed stained glass and pottery.Sifnos2025Long established ceramic traditions and pottery production culture.UNESCO. (2025). Sifnos. UNESCO Creative Cities Network. https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/sifnosSokodé2017Renowned for its art of weaving.Srinagar2021Centuries old traditional handcrafted weaving arts such as the Pashmina shawl, as well as other handicrafts such as handbags, lampshades, and other handcrafted home decor items.Sukhothai2019Culturally important artisanal products of gold and silver ornaments, textile weaving, and ceramic and Sangkhalok wares.Surakarta2023Known for traditional batik textile production.Suzhou2014History and culture of crafts in embroidery, carving, papermaking, painting, printing, and calligraphy.Tamba-Sasayama2015Ancient history of unique tanba-yaki pottery, a source of local pride.Tetouan2017History of crafts such as Zellige, Taajira embroidery, encrusted and painted wood and wrought ironwork.Trinidad2019History of a fibre fabrics industry.Tunis2017Known for its artisan souks that line alleyways.Ulaanbaatar2023Significant for traditional crafts such as national clothing, felt crafts and folk dance.Viljandi2019Various crafts including blacksmithing, ceramics, and wool.

City of Crafts and Folk Arts

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