CHANGSHA, China – Under the theme “Youth Creativity and Innovation in the Age of Media Arts”, youth from around the world are participating in the Third International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Roads (IYF3) that kicked off on Saturday evening, March 30, 2019 in Changsha, the capital city of central China’s Hunan province.
UNESCO, in collaboration with the National Commission of People’s Republic of China for UNESCO, invited young women and men aged 18 – 30 years from countries along the maritime and terrestrial Silk Roads to participate in the event, being held in Changsha and Nanjing, March 31 to April 6, 2019.
Sensational Bahamian artist Jamaal Rolle, who has become internationally famous as a “celebrity artist,” is among the124 youth delegates from 85 countries who are participating in the IYF3.
On his Facebook page, Rolle noted, “Currently I’m in China representing The Bahamas and The Caribbean at the UNESCO International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage. It is an honor being amongst 120 delegates from around the world, who were selected as thought leaders of our generation.”
According to an article released on April 2 by China.org.cn, “In addition to the Chinese participants, other delegates invited were from countries along the terrestrial and maritime Silk Road, including countries in the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa.”
“As a joint initiative between UNESCO and the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, the forum also welcomed UNESCO staff and ambassadors to China for the event,” the article noted.
According to Marielza Oliveira, director of UNESCO’s Beijing Office, the opening ceremony of the IYF3 was the largest session ever in the history of the forum. She also stressed that the IYF is not a youth forum of traditional type.
“The youth will not be told here that ‘you are the future and we will empower you’; the starting point is a real belief that the youth are already changing the world now,” she said.
At the opening ceremony held at the Tongguan Kiln Town, the participants enjoyed a creative pyrotechnic light show, which is a key feature of the city. In the day, they also enjoyed hands-on sessions of traditional pottery making.
Thanks to its long history and rich cultural resources, Changsha became the first Chinese city to be recognized as a UNESCO Creative City in media arts in 2017.
The IYF3 will last four days before continuing on to Nanjing city in Jiangsu province until April 7. During the next few days in Changsha, participants will hold various discussions, attend a high-level forum and a creative workshop, visit a representative media arts space in Changsha, and celebrate a Caribbean Film Festival.
After the IYF3, a total of 10 young artists who attended the forum will participate in the “Experience Changsha” Young Artists Residency Program for nearly a month.
