​Press Invitation: Welcome to Östersund and the annual meeting of UNESCO Creative Cities Network and the Gastronomy and Culture Week!

On September 12^th to 18^th, the Jämtland and Härjedalen region will savor in food culture and joy. It is our pleasure to invite representatives of media and press to take part in the annual meeting of UNESCO Creative Cities Network, as representatives from 116 cities from all over the World are visiting us. The region has seized this opportunity to present its’ local food tradition and culture. There will be such activities as, for instance, a superb food market, a festival and exhibitions, as well as performances and workshops. More than 100 companies, associations, designers and artists from all over the region will be represented.

The City of Östersund and the Jämtland Härjedalen region is, since 2010, designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The Gastronomy and Culture week is organized in conjunction with the hosting the network's annual meeting, where representatives from 116 cities from all over the world are visiting the region. The different categories of creativity represented within the network are crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts and music.

Representatives of press and media who wish to attend the week are accredited via the following web site or upon arrival.

Press and media are offered an overall lunch and dinner package for 2,300 SEK in connection with the annual meeting on Wednesday and Thursday. You make the order as you apply for your accreditation.

Monday, September 12

Suggested activities related to the Gastronomy and Culture Week

• "Attractive regions of cultural and creative industries" is the theme of the Mid Sweden University research conference Valuing and Evaluating Creativity for Sustainable Regional Development of 12-14 September. For more information, see uccn2016research.com
• "Food and the morale of the land of instant mashed potatoes" Chief Editor of Hunger Magazine, Mats-Eric Nilsson lectures. Dinner and conversation about the contents of processed foods and the importance of local production. Time: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Place: Jazzköket restaurant, read more on lrf.se/jämtland.

Tuesday, September 13

Suggested activities related to the UCCN meeting

• The annual meeting opens! Arrival of delegates who will participate in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network's annual meeting. 

Wednesday, September 14

Suggested activities related to the UCCN meeting

• Inauguration of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network's annual meeting, Storsjöteatern, Östersund. Press and interview rooms are available.
• Harvest lunch outdoors (included in food package). Festival with local artisan and street food on the city square for delegates and their companions.
• The seven different factions within the Creative Cities Network: crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, music, and media arts meet and exchange experiences. More information on uccn2016.com
• “Culture Soup” at Jamtli museum (included in the food package from 7PM). Jamtli’s unique historical environments and exhibitions interspersed with food, music and cultural experiences and as well as a good rustic soup dinner at the restaurant Hov. Contributors include the ‘Cultural Kitchen’ of Finland. The evening is coordinated by ‘Food in Action’.

Suggested activities related to the Gastronomy and Culture Week

• Opening ceremony of the World Expo "SZ-day" Shenzhen Design Award for Young Talents. International design exhibition, location: Excercishallen Norr, Stadsdel Norr, Östersund More information on regionjh.se/designcentrum.

Thursday, September 15

Suggested activities related to the CCN meeting (at Frösö Convention Center)

• Bilbao’s journey from industrial city to one of Europe's top food cities. In the concrete narrative exhibition ‘Best Practice Exhibition’, Bilbao and 59 other cities display how they use the cultural and creative industries for development.
• City and Countryside in Interdependence - the annual meeting in Östersund broadens perspectives. Parallel workshops with different themes. One, for example, concerns the importance of the city and countryside joining hands in working for sustainable development.
• From Jämtland to Ecuador - mayors from all over the world agree on conclusions for the large UN conference in Quito / Ecuador, Habitat III, on Sustainable Urban Planning.
• ‘crEATive Östersund’ -  A festive cultural bonanza (included in food packages). Starts at 7PM at Gamla Teatern. A celebration of food, music and culture. Conducted in a unique collaboration with international food personalities from the Nordic countries, including Lena Flaten, head chef, Jazzköket, Food Studio, Cultural Kitchen, Chefs dinner Norway, KC Wallberg and Mette Helbæk. Local flavors and producers. Read more at: creativeostersund.com

Suggested activities related to the Gastronomy and Culture Week

• Local food at its’ best - Food and craft market. Location: City Square. Read more at: visitostersund.se
• Profitable and creative business - Spotify shares experiences at Creative Business. Come and meet entrepreneurs who are here to be inspired and to do business. Location: Storsjöteatern, read more on creativebusiness.se

Friday, September 16

Suggested activities related to the CCN meeting (Storsjöteatern)

• France takes over - the annual meeting summed up and concluded. The host city for the 2017 meeting, Enghien-les-Bains in France, now takes over the mission. The host of 2018 is determined and presented.
• Delegates from all five continents on tour in Jämtland and Härjedalen. Study visits, anything from artisan food, glass blowing to the Sami culture. Media are welcome to attend. Read more about the various study visits.

Suggested activities related to the Gastronomy and Culture Week

• Food Film Festival – ‘Hungry!’ Film & Food Festival. A unique festival with a food theme. Among other things, the world premiere and preview of the documentary film about the chef Tsukasa "Tim" Takeuchi who runs the well-known Japanese restaurant Mikado in Östersund. Film festival movies are presented at six locations in the region: Järpen, Gåxjö, Bräcke, Valsjöbyn, Frösön and Östersund. Read more on hungryfestival.se

Saturday, September 17

Suggested activities related to the Gastronomy and Culture Week

• TEDxÖstersund is arranged for the second time. Theme #gamechanging. A full day of inspiring lectures at max 18 min of ideas worth spreading. Location: Storsjöteatern. Read more on tedxostersund.com