We are delighted to welcome Glasgow into the Creative Cities network, as a UNESCO City of Music.  Scotland is now the only country with two UNESCO Creative Cities.  The two Cities are looking forward to developing strong partnerships between their artforms and regional areas.

Glasgow UNESCO City of Music

The award also gives the city an edge as an international cultural destination for tourists and strengthens Glasgow's image. Glasgow has an impressive 130 music events in a typical week,
ranging from pop and rock to celtic and opera. Music businesses generate some £75 million a year for the city's economy.

As expressed in the bid document, Glasgow City of Music objectives are to use the title to:

• promote excellence in all sorts of music from rock to opera;

• to stimulate interest in musical education;

• to re-conceive Glasgow culturally as a world music centre;

• to improve access to music for all ages and social and ethnic backgrounds;

• to take part in the global network of UNESCO Creative Cities.

In preparation for a full launch of the organization ‘Glasgow City of Music' early in 2009, an Interim Management Group chaired by Colin McClatchie (Chair of Scottish Opera) is currently working to set up an enduring body that will work with existing musical organisations to coordinate and further stimulate music-making in the city. The Interim Management Group will shortly advertise for a Director of the new body.

Background

This bid was created with the endorsement and support of the City of Glasgow. The bid was supported financially by Glasgow City Council, BBC Scotland, the Universities of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian and Strathclyde and the Glasgow-Edinburgh Collaboration project. The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau provided significant practical support. The bid was presented to UNESCO on June 3, 2008 by Cllr Robert Winter,
Lord Provost of Glasgow.

Personnel

This bid was created (with the endorsement of the City of Glasgow) by Bid Director Svend Brown in association with:

Management Group

• Tom Thomson (Chair)
• James Boyle, advisor
• John Wallace, Principal, RSAMD
• June Edgar, Scottish Enterprise

• Colin McClatchie, (Chair)
• Archie Hunter
• Raymond Williamson
• Bridget McConnell (CEO Culture Sport Glasgow)
• Cllr Robert Winter Lord Provost of Glasgow

• Baroness Meta Ramsay (Chair)
• Craig Armstrong, Composer
• Nicola Benedetti, violinist
• Bailie Liz Cameron, Chair, Culture and Sport Glasgow
• Michael Dale, Director, West End Festival
• Geoff Ellis, Chief Executive, DF Music
• Pamela Gillies, Principal, Glasgow Caledonian University
• Andrew Hamnett, Principal, Strathclyde University
• Alex Kapranos, Franz Ferdinand
• Bailie Gordon Matheson, Executive Member for Education & Social Renewal,
• Glasgow City Council
• Donald MacDonald CBE, Chair, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
• James MacMillan, composer
• Ken MacQuarrie, Controller, BBC Scotland
• Louise Mitchell, Director, Glasgow Cultural Enterprises
• Roddy MacLeod, Principal, National Piping Centre
• Colin McClatchie, Chair, Scottish Opera
• Alan Simpson, Chair, National Youth Orchestras of Scotland
• Bob Winter, Lord Provost, Glasgow
• Sir Muir Russell, Principal, Glasgow University
• Ian Smith, Head of Music, Scottish Arts Council
• Tommy Smith, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
• Lesley Thomson, Director Liddell Thomson Consultancy
• Simon Thoumire, Scottish traditional music
• Chris van der Kuyl, Chief Executive, VIS entertainment
• Simon Woods, Chief Executive, RSNO
• Rob Woodward, Chief Executive, SMG
• Ruth Wishart, Writer and broadcaster
• Zoe van Zwanenberg, Chair, Scottish Ballet