History Timeline

Sapporo Ideas City Declaration

Sapporo issued the Sapporo Ideas City Declaration which states the goal of the Creative City initiative: a city in which the wisdom of citizens, along with domestic and international exchanges, cultivate new industry and culture and generate new information and items.

Recipient of the Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner Award in the category "Cultural Creative City"

The award is given to cities that use the creativity of culture and arts in a cross-disciplinary manner in their local development, tourism, and industrial promotion to solve regional issues.
The following activities were recognised as best practices which contribute to create and disseminate local culture and industries:

• The city provides regular opportunities for locals to appreciate art and culture in owning cultural institutions such as the Sapporo Art Park and the Sapporo Concert Hall "Kitara", and holding large-scale events such as the Pacific Music Festival (PMF) and the Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market.
• The Intercross Creative Center (ICC) was established to promote the digital content industry and to support the development of creators that will become the leaders of the new industries.
• The Sapporo City University (SCU) is conducting educational programmes and research as part of its Faculty of Design that contribute to the promotion of culture and art in the city.

Participation to the Creative City Network of Japan (CCNJ) as a founding organisation

The Creative City Network of Japan supports various organisations including local governments that promote (or are planning to promote) creative city initiatives, and encourages collaboration and exchange between creative cities in Japan and around the world.

Accession to the membership of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

Sapporo was the first city in Asia and second in the world to be designated a City of Media Arts by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

First edition of the Sapporo International Art Festival (SIAF)

The first edition of the Sapporo International Art Festival was launched in 2014 as a signature project of the Creative City initiative. It welcomed Ryuichi Sakamoto as the guest director, and lasted 72 days from July 19 to September 28, 2014.