UNESCO city of music Kırsehir and cultural sustainability

At the end of the twentieth century, cities were reshaped by cultural productions, and culture, which was instrumentalized as a driving force for local economic development, gave rise to the concept of the creative city. Although cultural productions have enabled the restructuring of cities in this process, creative city policies that prioritize only the economy have led to the acceleration of the existing problems of capitalism. Cities that have grown with culture-based productions have become the places where social problems are seen most intensely. Since the rapid destruction of physical, cultural and economic assets due to capitalist production relations has led to social problems in cities, the concept of sustainability and sustainable development principles have emerged. It has been accepted that culture plays a key role in solving these problems, and the "UNESCO Creative City Network" program was established in order to make cities the center of culture-based development. The network, which is the urban dimension of sustainable development, aims not only economic growth and development but also social development through cultural productions. In 2019, Kırşehir was included in the 285 member "UNESCO Creative City Network" with the theme of music, and the city's local music and Central Anatolian Folk Music were integrated into economic and social development processes. Kırşehir becoming a member of the Creative City Network means accepting the principles of sustainable development and culture aimed to be achieved by UNESCO and acting in parallel with the commitments of the network. Therefore, it is expected that the city will be able to sustain its local music culture without destroying it and achieve economic and social development through these cultural productions. This study will address the advantages and disadvantages of Kırşehir music city and its local music in order to sustain its local music. Within the scope of this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with different stakeholders of the city, including Ahiler Development Agency, Kırşehir Metropolitan Municipality, Kırşehir Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Neşet Ertaş Faculty of Fine Arts Music Department and musicians. In addition to 31 in-depth interviews, unattended observation technique was used at music events organized in Kırşehir and Ankara. The field findings show that the advantages of Kırşehir music city are also disadvantages. Since sustainable development and the "UNESCO Creative Cities Network" are practices that continue to be criticized, the creative music city of Kırşehir is not only discussed within the framework of UNESCO commitments. It has been seen that it is not enough to fulfill only bureaucratic obligations and commitments in order to ensure the survival of local music in the city and to ensure development in this way, and it has been determined that the development of cultural infrastructures in Kırşehir is of fundamental importance. Key Words UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Sustainability, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Culture, Kırşehir Creative Music City