Prince Charles Cinema: Cultural Hub for the United Kingdom?

Inside the nation’s capital city, London, lies a small independent cinema know as the Prince Charles Cinema. The cinema is fairly small, with only two screens, one of which has a capacity barely above one-hundred. However over the years this film has become a cultural touchstone for many film fans in the United Kingdom and is slowly becoming international renown.

I first visited ‘PCC’ in early 2016, and since then I have personally made the trip to the building over twelve times despite living in Wales and attending University in Cardiff. Why is this?

The PCC is what is known as a ‘Revival House’ a cinema that specialises in showing older, obscure or international films rather than the mainstream and recently films shown in most multiplex cinemas. The cinema also frequently screens films on film stock, a medium which has mostly been abandoned by larger multiplex cinemas and offers a greater sense of authenticity for older films. These aspects of the cinema are not particularly unique on their own, there are numerous revival houses across the United Kingdom. However there are no other cinemas of this type in London’s West-End, arguably the theatrical and cinematic centre of British culture. This makes the PCC a place of arguable historical as well as cultural significance, as it is the only way many people in the area will be able to see these films in their intended cinematic medium. The cinema offers unique reoccurring events, such as a Sound of Music: Sing Along event for which the cinema is particularly famous and in recent years The Room: Quote-Along. These events fit right in with the theatre shows dotted across London’s West-End, offering a greater degree of audience interaction than most cinemas and merge the cinematic and theatre spheres seamlessly. The cinema also has a strong digital and online presence with a well organised and appealing layout for online booking. The website also features a number of high quality photographs of the venue which I have used in this post. This digital presence shows the independent cinema adapting to the changes to the creative economy brought by digital technology, an impressive feat considering the decisively analogue nature of their business and product.

(Photo taken from Princecharlescinema.com)

This is why the cinema has become such a ‘cult smash’ amongst film fans, myself included. Not only is the cinema a joy to visit, but it sits inside one of the best travel destinations in the UK. The cinema sits alongside London’s ‘Chinatown Gate’ allowing guests access to some of the best food and authentic Chinese cultural experiences in the entire country!

(Photo taken from ‘Time Out’)

As a creative city it is doubtless that London is a success. The West-End itself is a sizeable district of the city limits devoted to housing theatres, museums, bookshops and small studios. If anything the greatest challenge facing the PCC and the creative economy in London on the whole is over-saturation, the possibility of being lost beneath so many successful institution within the creative industry of the city. It for this reason perhaps that the PCC remains the only revival house in the area despite its success and acclaim.

Another issue present in London, that may hurt potential competition of the PCC is that the cost of living in London is notoriously high, almost tripling the cost of rent when compared a smaller UK city such as Cardiff (Moneysupermarket.com, 2014).

Due to these issues it is possible that one day London’s West-End and by extension the PCC will be surpassed as the best creative and travel hub in the UK. However the Prince Charles Cinema is a great example to follow when setting up and independent cinema and remains my favourite travel destination in the entire UK.

When In Rome…

 Rome, the “Eternal City”. For centuries, people have travelled across continents to marvel in the heart of Italian culture, wander through idyllic cobbled streets, and taste authentic Italian cuisine. Italian director Federico Fellini once said, ‘Rome does not need to make culture. It is culture’, having visited Rome twice in the space of two years, I am guilty of having a love affair with the city.

Unconsciously getting lost in the ancient City is an experience in itself, every corner you turn, photograph you take, captures Rome’s artistic heritage from all angles. Rome’s cityscape alone is unforgettable, seizing the hearts of many.

As I walked across the city from St. Peters Basilica to the Colosseum, I was not only distracted by the aroma of freshly prepared pizza, but by the finest creations of Western art – from towering sculptures, astonishing architecture and mesmeric fountains. Home to the renowned Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini; the city is a playground for artistic enthusiasts, culture chasers, history lovers and budding wine connoisseurs. I could not help but feel a sense of incredible jealously towards the Italian culture, longing to have what they have…

Religious, or not, St. Peters Basilica and the Vatican Museum absolutely cannot be missed when visiting Rome. As you walk through the Museum you are greeted by an Exhibition of historical monuments and vibrant Renaissance frescoes, immediately being left bewildered by the endless possibilities of humanity! Upon entering St. Peters you are welcomed by the echoing of angelic voices bouncing off the cool marble floor, enormous domes, and historical artefacts. You are able to climb to the top of Michelangelo’s dome but this is not for the faint hearted (or claustrophobic), it takes a total of 491 occasionally steep, narrow and exhausting stairs to reach the top. But the view makes it worthwhile.

(The view from the top of Michelangelo’s dome)

Ancient architectural constructions such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon prove how Rome has always excelled in innovation and creativity. The Colosseum and the Roman Forum will take up the best of a whole day to explore in depth, nevertheless this will be a day well spent.

Many people will say that Piazza di Spagna is nothing but an exhausting trek of steps with a mediocre view of Rome’s elite shops. But it is so much more, when visited at the right time (between 9-12 pm) the Spanish Steps become a place of live music, entertainment and romance.

(Piazza di Spagna)

With all that Rome has to offer, how could there possibly be more?

According to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Rome’s affluent reputation in film production dates back to the early 20^th century, with the creation of the Cinecittà Studios. Since then, the Capital city has flourished to become the hub of Europe’s leading film production.

The Rome International Film Festival (RIFF), is running for the 14^th year this coming November, and has been awarded among the top film festivals in the world. The RIFF encourages filmmakers from all cultural, ethnic and global backgrounds to share their independent work to the festival audience. In doing so, the festival provides the filmmakers with the exciting opportunity to make professional connections in the industry. The creative economy is thriving in Rome, generating 750 million euros each year from the film sector alone.

The Italian culture inundates tourists from across the world. The “Eternal City” will never stop expanding, adapting and surprising us with new innovations, creativity and concepts, that cannot be rivalled with.

Building a creative gem in a commercial city

Downtown Atlanta is the city’s central business district and home to multiple major global business corporations: The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, United Parcel Services… the list stretches on. Home to the world’s busiest airport and a heap (2.5 million m² to be exact) of office space just in downtown alone, it’s safe to say that Atlanta is kind of a big deal when it comes to talking business in a busy city. Also classified as one of the world’s ‘alpha-world cities’ ,this metropolitan giant contributed its fair share towards the global economic system. However, while Atlanta may live up to their alpha status within the business arena, it can sometimes be easy to miss the thriving art and creative community that is dampened by all the surrounding commercial noise.

Situated just a short-way east of downtown is an up-and-coming creative and cultural hub. Little Five Points (L5P) has not only developed a reputation for the arts but also as a well-known gathering spot for all sub-cultures around the city. But the path to gaining reputation as a creative community is not an easy one. During its past, economic development and gentrification saw L5P struggle with issues of abandonment and economic and structural disrepair, which challenged L5P’s existence as a retail and art scene. Fortunately, restoration in the neighbourhood in the late 80s and 90s welcomed a new community with new energy; artists, creative-ists and student, who redeveloped L5P into an ‘intown cool’, alternative local marketplace bursting with arts, unique fashion, delicious food and live music

Here are some spots that make L5P unique:

1. Vortex Bar & Grill

The skull-shaped entrance has increasingly become recognised as the iconic ‘entrance’ of L5P. True to its eye-catching colours architecture, Vortex captures the eccentric qualities that encapsulate the area. They also serve Atlanta’s best burgers!

2. Junkman’s Daughter

Junkman’s Daughter is one of the oldest in the community and perfect for a throwback – there is something for every generation. Named the ‘Alternative Super Store’ by its owners, it’s a testament to the diversity and creativity that L5P represents. Its peculiar yet remarkable exterior is also a marvel in itself.

Junkman’s Daughter Entrance

Junkman’s Daughter Exterior

3. Variety’s Playhouse

Home to famous live-music acts in the Atlanta area, Variety’s Playhouse was once a 1940s theatre that has now transformed into a local live-music venue showcasing national and local acts. It has retained its vintage art-deco interior and exterior, making it the distinctive and popular music venue it is today.

Variety Playhouse (Image Credits: Jbarta via Wikipedia. Licensed under Creative Commons 3.0) 

4. Everywhere and Anywhere! The streets of L5P are filled with unique and expressive murals and art displays that add to the vibrancy of the area. Colourful and inspirational, even adverts are not adverts are not your typical ones at L5P!

Street Art/ Sun Trust Advert in L5P

Street Art in L5P

Art Mural in L5P

L5P is uniquely located between two affluent neighbourhoods that urged the community to integrate alternative ideas of culture, style and community, and to contribute to the overall development of L5P’s creative scene and identity. Free from any big-box brands, it allows opportunities for local independent businesses to strive, reflecting the various mixture of cultures and ideas present in Altanta’s growing creative community.

Atlanta may not be on track to become the next global creative city, but by embracing subcultures and celebrating overlooked communities, it has cultivated a creative hub that is symbolic and representative to the area’s rich history and allow L5P to define their own sense of ‘creativity’. This perhaps foregrounds the notion that it is not always about striving for global recognition for creativity, but about being recognised as a city that is home-grown and nurtured, and reflects personal history and community. As the NBA Atlanta Hawks would say, “the people of the city are definitely #TrueToAtlanta”

Header image credits to Wally Gobetz via Flickr (Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) 

All other photo credits to Lorria Sahmet unless stated otherwise.

A secret Berlin: 5 things you really need to see

With its swanky architecture, creative vibes and outrageous parties, Berlin should definitely be on the top of your list. Since the fall of the famous Berlin wall (Berliner Mauer for you language folk), it’s become a place where “anything-goes” and by anything, they mean anything.

From Berghain to Aquadom this list will guide you through five of the best and most unusual sights of Berlin, starting with Spreepark.

Spreepark

Abandoned amusement park, Berlin (photographer: Jan Bommes)

Spreepark takes residence in the north of the Plänterwald in South East Berlin. It’s been abandoned for the last ten years now, and it doesn’t try to hide it. Every inch of the park is littered with the remnants of rides and life-sized dinosaurs, including a broken roller coaster leading into the mouth of a mysterious raving-rabid creature. But this doesn’t stop trails of explorers from venturing inside. A prominent setting in horror film “Hanna”, the park is admittedly difficult to enter but with the hop of a fence, anything is possible.

Berghain

Berghain at night (photographer: Michael Mayer)

Berghain is pure ecstasy in its physical form. It is a place of mystery, stimulation and hardcore booze, drugs and techno fuelled pleasure. A short walk from Berlin’s main station (Ostbahnhof), Berghain has made its mark worldwide, perhaps due to its exclusive selection process as well as its crazy powerful sound system. Literally anything DOES go there, so don’t be expecting any rules. Berghain has become a cultural icon, famous for being the techno capital of the current world but of course that all depends on if you can get in. Wear black. And lots of it. But don’t try and be something you’re not. Because they will know. The quite honestly terrifying bouncers will pry on each and every detail of your trying-not-to-be-edgy outfit. Click here to find out exactly how to get into Berghain. It opens at 10pm on a Friday night and stays open until 4am on Monday morning. Two final words: good luck.

AquaDom

Aquadom in the Radisson SAS hotel (photographer: Tobias Wutzow)

Berlin’s AquaDom is famous for being the world’s largest free standing aquarium in the world: standing at over 25 metres in height and 12 metres in diameter. Containing over one million litres of water, a coral reef and almost 2,600 fish, it really is a wonder to behold. Not a sight to be seen from ground-level, the ingenious attraction uses an elevator to allow guests a full 360 degree experience of the 56 species of fish as well as the divers who care for the tank. A visit to AquaDom promises you a real-life experience of a coral reef, so don’t miss out. I promise you won’t regret it.

Liquidrom

The large saltwater pool at Liquidrom (photographer: Aaron Muszalski)

Feel the future with a trip to the Liquidrom, where you can float around in a pool of saltwater amidst the rhythms of underwater techno. Designed by German architects GMP, the complex is shaped like an abstract tent erected so high it scrapes the Berlin sky. Ultra-modern spa facilities make up the Liquidrom, including an outsize sauna, an aromatherapy steam bath and a hot tub inspired by the Japanese hot springs. Offering a number of unusual yet soothing massage treatments, the Liquidrom’s centrepiece is the incredible salt water pool. Masses of neon lights filter into the dome, bringing colour and illumination into the dimly lit room. If you want to relax in the style of the future, you won’t want to miss this.

Design Panoptikum

Design Panoptikum is a “surrealist” museum of industrial objects so, if you like quirky things, you’ll love this. Behind Torstaße is architect Vlad Korneev’s unique museum filled with a bizarre collection of crazy curiosities of the most eccentric kind. Amidst the shadowy rooms emerge an assortment of mechanical monsters made up of spare pasts and parts. Dolls, lamps and instruments of every industry come together to form a ghostly atmosphere beyond even a child’s imagination. For all things weird and wonderful, visit Design Panoptikum.

Disney isn’t Florida’s cultural city.

The state of Florida, located on the East Coast of the USA is approximately 4,270 miles from our small home the UK. Welcoming annually around 2 million tourists from the UK alone, that’s more than the combined total from Germany, Mexico, Australia, China and India, the British traveller collectively spends around $1.5 billion dollars on their visit (around £1.2 billion pounds!). Predominantly traveling for the theme park adventure, the commercialisation of Florida has lead the average tourist to look no further than its sunny beaches and Disney heroes.

But there is so much more to Florida than you might think. Here are a few cultural cities you could visit to experience the bursting culture available in Florida, even if it’s only one day of your holiday!

Orlando

Apart from the Disney parks, Orlando is a vastly cultural city. Deep in the heart of Orlando is its thriving Film culture, holding its annual Florida Film festival spread across Downtown Orlando every October, including works from independent and international cinema. Inviting film experts from around the world, its film also holds the annual Fringe Festival which started in 1992, and runs over 2 weeks, celebrating all genres of film; and costs only $10 dollars for entry!

If this isn’t your type of thing Orlando has so much more to offer with its lively music scene such as Universal Orlando CityWalk, it’s all-American sporting games, like the Amway Centre home to its NBA basketball team the Orland Magic and its Museums, such as the Morse Museum cultivating various art works and known for its one of its most famous exhibits from Louis Comfort Tiffany.

 The Amway centre

Miami

Usually seen as the party venue for the A list celebrities and the nightlife of South Beach, Miami is actually full of fresh culture. Its art deco Design District, 2.8 miles from Downtown Miami, rose in the early 2000’s, revamping its area bringing in cultural contributors from the art world. It is now full of contemporary art, with its exhibitions, street food fayres and art galleries. Its promotion of innovation from new and old artists created a whole new hub and cultural city for those wishing to show their art.

Photo credit Miami Design District

Its street art in the Wynwood Arts District which holds over 70 art galleries is one of the largest open street art places in the world. Founded in 2003 by various artists and curators, the Wynwood arts district has become a space for artists to create and display their art. The creation of the Wynwood walls in 2009 by arts visionary Tony Goldman is said to have brought attention to the artist genre of graffiti and has said to be monumental in its growth in popularity. With its ever growing restaurants, galleries and attraction for up-and-coming artists, this rising arts and cultural scene is a must!

 Sarasota

On the West Coast of Florida on the Gulf Coast is the beautiful city of Sarasota. Already categorised as the Cultural city of the Southwest it is home to a vast range of culture.  With, to name a few, the Sarasota Opera, Sarasota Orchestra and Sarasota Ballet, its city is the home of the traditional arts. Its musical theatre companies such as, The Players Centre for Performing Arts, which started in 1936, was once home to the budding Hollywood stars Bette Davis and Charlton Heston. If you have time, visit its relatively small city bursting at the seams with culture. (And its beaches are beautiful too!)

Longboat Key

Feature image picture credit Bob Rountree

 

 

 

Film Review: Lion – The Power of Technology

Heart breaking, soul-searching and enthralling are just three ways I would describe the film Lion. Based on the true story, The Story of a Lost Boy by Saroo Brierley, this film’s adaptation of a hard-hitting narrative is what makes it a success. Directed by Garth Davis and showcasing the talented actors Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman, it has been described by The Guardian, as an ‘incredible postmodern odyssey’.

Released in October 2016, Lion took $4.15 million during its first weekend, making its opening the fifth highest grossing for an Australian film according to distributor Transmission Films. It has gone on to receive nominations for six Oscars and four Golden Globes, including Best Drama Motion Picture, and has been praised all over social media with tweets from Kim Kardashian, among other celebrities:

Source: https://twitter.com/KimKardashian

The film re-enacts the incredible story of Saroo’s life. At the start, he is a five year old Indian boy (played by Sunny Pawar, who is originally from a Mumbai slum), living with his mother and brother in a rural Indian village. Saroo joins his brother at work but one night he falls asleep on a train and becomes separated from him. Scared and alone, Saroo finds himself in Kolkata, surrounded by local people who only speak Bengali, a language very different to his native Hindi. After living on the streets of Kolkata and avoiding some sticky situations, Saroo is adopted by an Australian couple. In his new home of Tasmania, he gains an education and appears to look forward to a respectable future, full of prospects. However, Saroo is prone to flashbacks of his previous life, so decides to make it his mission to investigate his past with the help of modern technology. Through the use of Google Earth, he manages to track down his old home and become reunited with his mother.

The film succeeds in sticking closely to Saroo’s original story, and the director’s use of powerful cinematic techniques and mise-en-scènes makes the film feel authentic. However, it is not until the genuine footage provided by Saroo at the end of the film that the full reality of the situation hits home. Seeing Saroo’s adoptive mother meeting his real mother for the first time really struck a chord.

This prompted me to reflect on some deeper issues – if Saroo had not been adopted into the Western World, would he ever have found his mother? How has the different experience of Saroo’s two ‘mothers’ been influenced by the places in which they live? Why has the world allowed the lack of technology available in poorer countries to become yet another factor, which punishes those in poverty?

It seems that the mix of love, determination and the power of technology brought Saroo and his mother together again. For the average Westerner, who normally uses Google Earth to pinpoint his or her house, it seems incredible that such a platform could have such a substantial effect on someone’s life.

Google Earth– the platform that Saroo used to find his mother. “Google Earth” (CC BY 2.0) by Jonica Schmutz

Although it has been claimed that India is the fastest growing tech hub in the world, many of its people are not even able to access services like Google Earth. In India, 900 million people do not have access to the internet due to issues such as affordability and awareness. In contrast to the UK, where one in four people have broadband connection.

In this country, technology is often criticised for making our nation lazy, yet its positive elements are overlooked, such as the billions it brings into our economy and the opportunities it gives us to invent. This film shows us that we really need to appreciate how fortunate we are in the UK to have access to such creative technology.

Lion’s portrayal of Google Earth shows that technology can make the unthinkable happen. It has and will impact positively on people’s lives, yet it is up to us to allow everyone the freedom and access to use it.

 

All images free to use under Creative Commons legislation. 

Cover image source: https://goo.gl/images/2317y6 

Sofia: Bulgaria’s creative city

More and more cities around the world are recognizing creativity as an essential part of their image and are placing it at the centre of their development strategies. Motivated by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), urban areas are increasingly determined to regenerate themselves and to promote cultural diversity. Sofia, a true symbol of Bulgarian pride, and also a candidate for European Capital of Culture for 2019, is one of UCCN’s prominent members.

Situated in Western Bulgaria, at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain, Sofia has been capital of Bulgaria for 131 years. A crossroad of various cultures and religions, this amazing place is the hometown of attractions, which are true embodiment of creative talent:

1. The National Palace of Culture (NDK)

Photo credit: Sofia through the lens

The National Palace of Culture is situated in the centre of Sofia, and is one of the largest conference and exhibition facilities in South-Eastern Europe. It hosts a variety of events every month, including meetings, festivals, concerts, and art events. Moreover, NDK is surrounded by a beautiful park area where street musicians often play, while people are enjoying the sun with chilled beers in hands and joyful thoughts in mind.

2. National History Museum

Photo credit: National History Museum

Undoubtedly, history is such a crucial part of a nation’s formation and mindset that history museums being at the top five of the must-sees of every large touristic city comes as no surprise. However, what makes the National History Museum in Sofia distinctive are its unique spirit and energy permeated in the artefacts left by all the different cultures which have crossed Bulgaria. A quick tour of the museum will help you learn about the rich heritage of the country from antiquity to present days. Collections of coins, folk costumes, and famous Bulgarian treasures, such as the Panagyurishte hoard, which has been displayed in various exhibitions across the world, will undoubtedly inspire every curious explorer.

3. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Photo credit: Sofia through the lens

As one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built in the early twentieth century as a memorial for all soldiers who died in the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878). It is not only the moving story behind the construction of the temple, but also its unique architecture that attracts so many visitors. The golden domed basilica, which hides an amazing collection of icons in its crypt, is the perfect place for an enriching spiritual experience.

4. Nu Boyana Film Studio

Photo credit: Nu Boyana Film Studio

If there is one place in Bulgaria where the most gifted creatives come to realize their potential, this, undoubtedly, is Nu Boyana Film Studio. Established more than 50 years ago, the studio provides excellent equipment and production services, as well as fascinating natural sets and locations. The success of all talents working for Nu Boyana can be demonstrated by the studio’s collaboration in world-famous films, such as The Expendables 1, 2, and 3, 300: Rise of an Empire, Criminal, etc.

5. Vitosha Boulevard

Photo credit: Sketches of Sofia

Last but not least, every creative city needs a main street like the amazing Vitosha Boulevard to provide its guests and locals with the best services on a chill coffee date after a long day of shopping, or on a memorable night out! What is remarkable about this three-kilometre street is that there is something for everyone’s taste: from expensive Western brands and exquisitely prepared meals to small shops selling hand-made designs and places bringing up traditional Bulgarian atmosphere.

These inspiring places show only a tiny fraction of Sofia’s huge cultural heritage. If you want to learn more about this amazing city, don’t be afraid to embark on an unforgettable journey to Bulgaria and find the new definition of creativeness!

Photo credit for the featured image: Sketches of Sofia

What makes Georgetown Penang a Creative City?

What is a Creative City, though? What separates a drab concrete jungle from a kaleidoscope of streets sprawling with originality? Is it a maze of world class museums, whose corridors span with the works of the greatest artists throughout history? Or is it, above all, the ability to market those unique selling points of a city, into strategic economic advantages which encourage the growth of a rich creative economy?

According to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, it seems that socio-economic developments are the defining factor when determining what makes a city creative one. Created to “promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development”, UCCN has awarded 116 cities such a title, for successfully developing their creative and cultural industries both locally and internationally.

Photo credit: Emily Jones 

Georgetown Penang is just one of the cities across the world hoping to gain this accreditation; the city’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, marked the beginning of its transformation into a creative and cultural hub.

Yet according to UNESCO formal criteria, Georgetown doesn’t make the cut. And I wonder, if this is entirely fair. For when I really thought about it, retracing boundless steps through the cities I have visited across the world, it was not Barcelona or Rome, nor the city lights of Singapore, or Sydney nor Dublin – all of which have gained acknowledgement for their dedication to creativity, which sprung to mind. It’s Georgetown, in the little north-eastern corner of mainland Malaysia that defines a Creative City for me.

Colourful Chinese shop houses blend with Western sky-scrapers and old colonial architecture, wherein a jumble of old-world Asian influences collide with an increasingly cosmopolitan urban centre. A truly unique cultural vibrancy has been made possible through the influx of migrants from China, India and Indonesia in the 19th century, allowing for a diverse local identity.

The winding roads of Little India, littered with trishaws and roadside restaurants, brims with gusts of Indian spices and fragrant incense. Turn a corner, and the towering Mosques and Sari shops give way to Chinese temples and red paper lanterns, which line the chaotic cobbled streets of Chinatown. Hidden within this eclectic mix of cultures, is an organic artistic scene which sets Georgetown apart as a diverse and unique centre for arts and culture.

Photo credit: Emily Jones 

Photo credit: Emily Jones 

In terms of economic opportunities, maybe Penang has work to do if it’s to successfully shape the rich identity of its capital city in line with the economic objectives of the global market. But I can’t help thinking that such financially charged initiatives may diminish the rawness of the place I fell in love with, wherein cosmopolitan western influences will inevitably seep through the narrow lanes, overshadowing the street murals and the wrought iron structures which scatter the walls and tell the stories of the city’s past with sleeker, more polished forms of art.

The summer months are defined by the infamous Georgetown Festival, which veils the city in a month-long celebration of world-class arts performances and local community initiatives. My time here brimmed with endless street parties and performances, sitting amongst locals in roadside plastic chairs as the sun went down, and queueing at the infamous hawker carts for the most authentic cuisines.

Photo credit: Emily Jones

Photo credit: Emily Jones 

We wandered through rusty doorways to find art exhibitions in unlikely spaces. Canvas sheets hung from the ceiling, inked with poetry encapsulating the raw emotion of the human heart in Malaysian, Chinese and English; the intricacies of Penang’s cultural identity tied together in a string of sprawling words. As I crept through this shadowy abandoned building, running fingers through foreign symbols, I smiled at the poignancy of those poems which defined the vulnerabilities of human condition, no matter the language, or the culture.

Georgetown made me feel, it made me question; it made me curious and inspired. For all these reasons and so many more, Georgetown is a Creative City, irrespective of the accreditation it is yet to achieve.

Secret Creative Cities Around the World

Ever wondered what makes a city creative? Throw a music festival, add in some paint on canvas and have an author read a few lines of literature, et voila.

Okay, perhaps that’s not all that makes a creative city, but that guess isn’t as far off as throwing a dart at a map and it landing in the Pacific. Subjects including music, literature and art are all listed as categories under the official UNESCO Creative Cities Network and all share a common objective of “placing creative and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.” It is this commonality that brings 116 countries across six continents together to form a network that celebrates and encourages artistic minds to craft, design and create. Founded in 2004, UNESCO CCN aims to continue creative development in urban environments, fulfilling the potential of a city’s character and social-cohesion within.

Photo source: UNESCO Creative Cities Network Map

What is so great about cities is their artistic differences from one another, thanks to the various creators and urban initiatives that have the potential to grow in places that are otherwise deemed as depressing 9-5 building blocks. Cities famed by the movies including New York, London and Paris never struggle to attract tourists throughout the year, many of whom take time out to visit infamous art pieces such as the Mona Lisa displayed in Le Louvre. But as the United Kingdom recently named the not so predictable City of Culture 2017 as Hull, it seems appropriate to give underrated creative cities across the world the beacon of light they so rightly deserve.

Our best advice? Expect the unexpected.

Photo source: Qantara.de

BAGHDAD, Iraq

Portrayed by Western media as a war-torn country beyond repair, Iraq’s capital is evidence that the Middle-East has so much more talent and culture to offer than one may presuppose. Nominated as the 2013 Arab Country of Culture, Iraq’s capital prints newspapers in three languages (Arabic, English and French)  and has massively developed in the area of women’s literature, having recently hosted their first awards event for female writers and an International Conference on Translations.

Photo source: English UK North, Bradford

BRADFORD, United Kingdom

Listed as a UNESCO City of Film in 2009, Bradford has a long history of the moving image and producing historical classics including the TV series Wuthering Heights and a Colin Firth favourite, The Kings Speech in 2010. Having gained increasing popularity for housing movie sets, the West-Yorkshire city also greets thousands of visitors to its annual International Film Festival and National Media Museum. If you so happen to stroll through these streets, you may find yourself re-enacting a scene from one of the many films it is famed for.

Photo source: HD Wallpaper

KINGSTON, Jamaica

Home to world-famous reggae artist Bob Marley, it is hard to think that Kingston would be overlooked as a creative city. The historical roots and generations worth of Jamaican music has bred six genres, including reggae, ska and dancehall, all of which are mixed and recorded in production studios in the capital. Jamaican music offers something to the heart and soul, which brings about social inclusion, or inspiration for social change.

JAIPUR, India

Forget the Taj Mahal and travel West to Jaipur to explore the hidden gem that is Hawa Mahal, otherwise known as Palace of the Winds. It may only be 1/7 the height of the Taj Mahal, but this beautiful piece of architecture has so much character in both its history and pink-tainted bricks. We suggest timing your visit with the Jaipur International Heritage Festival, where traditional crafts and folk art are showcased.

Photo source: Amazing India Blog