The World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF), an international summit focused on creative and cultural advocacy, announced Friday that its next conference will be held in San Francisco.
Organized by BOP Consulting, a British-based consulting firm specializing in creative industries, the WCCF brings representatives from 28 cities from around the world to discuss “the vital role of culture in their future prosperity.” The forum also publishes reports assessing and analyzing its members’ arts scenes; for example, it counts how many music venues and movie theaters there are in each city.
“Culture is a golden thread that runs through our cities, defining their character and acting as the catalyst for ideas and innovation,” WCCF Chair Justine Simons said. “But as cities grow there are serious challenges, and the World Cities Culture Forum is working on practical solutions to ensure talent and creativity can flourish.”
Friday’s announcement comes as the 2017 summit wraps up in Seoul, Korea, which was the first city in Asia to host the conference.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said in a statement he was “thrilled” about the announcement, adding “The arts are vital to San Francisco’s unique character and economy. They express our city’s values and contribute to an environment that fosters innovation.”
