Photo: Brett Schewitz

Adelaide Wants World Recognition As A City of Music

Everyone’s favourite South Australian capital city Adelaide, aka Radelaide, has had enough of the churches already and wants to up its cool factor by gaining world recognition with a bid to be named a UNESCO City of Music.

Reports the ABC, Adelaide has launched a bid for the UNESCO title, and has sought advice about the campaign from representatives from Seville in Spain, which was the first city named as part of the program.

To be successful in their bid, Adelaide – home of The Angels, Cold Chisel, Paul Kelly, Sia, Hilltop Hoods and The Superjesus – has to prove the city has a strong and long history of music-making, education and community involvement.

“Adelaide has a long and proud history in music and generating world-class musicians, we have terrific and growing music festivals and the international recognition that would come with being an internationally recognised city of music would be invaluable,” explains Arts Minister Jack Snelling.

“It’s a very, very exciting opportunity for Adelaide and a great opportunity for us to collaborate with some of the music capitals of the world,” he added. “It would provide exchange opportunities for our budding musicians and increase tourism potential from the music sector around the globe.”

Adelaide Festival Centre Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director Douglas Gautier says the bid would allow greater collaboration with other cultural cities and festival around the world.

Sarah Bleby, the head of the Adelaide Guitar Festival, is leading the application process and they hope to hear an outcome by late October.

Other cities with the title are Bologna in Italy, Hamamatsu in Japan, Glasgow in Scotland, Gent in Belgium, Mannheim in Germany, Bogota in Colombia, Brazzaville in Congo and Hannover in Germany.

If their bid is successful Adelaide would be Australia’s first UNESCO City of Music. Interestingly, Sydney has already been recognised as an UNESCO City of Film while Melbourne is a City of Literature.

Gallery: Soundwave 2015 Adelaide, Day 1 – Bonython Park 21/02/15 / Photos: Nic Bezzina

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