Kansas City Music has always told our city’s story—from the soulful blues and lively bands in the Vine Jazz District to today’s local talent lighting up venues across downtown Kansas City. Our music is more than entertainment—it’s a living heritage that defines who we are and a key driver of Kansas City’s music scene.

But telling that story—and ensuring it continues—means being part of a larger conversation about how culture and creativity can shape our cities for the better, and why Kansas City Music matters not just locally, but globally.
That’s why Kansas City is an active member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). This summer, representatives from Creative City KC traveled to France for the Annual Meeting of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in Enghien-les-Bains, followed by a dedicated Music Cities meeting in Metz, Kansas City’s newest Sister City.

In this post, we want to share what this international gathering was all about, what our city’s musical heritage has to do with it, what we accomplished, why Kansas City Music matters on the world stage, and how you can get involved. Because Kansas City’s music tradition is not just a cultural asset—it’s our collective commitment to creativity, inclusion, and connection.

Kansas City Music is more than our past—it’s our future. By working together, supporting local talent, and championing our creative heritage on the global stage, we can ensure that Kansas City’s music scene continues to thrive for generations to come. Let’s celebrate what makes our city unique and share the power of Kansas City Music with the world.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network unites more than 350 cities worldwide, each dedicated to using creativity and culture as drivers of sustainable urban development, including jazz, blues, and Kansas City Music. These cities represent eight creative fields: Music, Architecture, Literature, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Media Arts, and Crafts & Folk Art. Kansas City became the first UNESCO Creative City of Music in the United States in 2017, but being part of this network isn’t just a title—it’s a promise.

Each year, the network’s Annual Meeting rotates among host cities and serves as a vital space for members to share their work promoting creativity and culture. It offers opportunities to exchange ideas and best practices for making cities more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable, while also planning new collaborative projects and building solidarity across continents, cultures, and disciplines.

A highlight of this gathering is the Mayor’s Forum, where city leaders reaffirm the importance of culture and creativity—including jazz and live music—in sustainable urban development. It’s our way of demonstrating that investing in Kansas City Music isn’t an afterthought but an essential commitment to building a better city for everyone.

You might wonder: Why does this international network matter to Kansas City’s music scene, our community, and our local musicians? Why send people to France?

The answer is simple:

Culture and creativity aren’t luxuries. They’re essential tools for solving urban challenges, promoting inclusion, and building a sustainable future. Kansas City Music—from jazz and blues to rock bands and experimental sounds—plays a critical role in this mission.

Cultural landmarks like the 18th and Vine Jazz District show how preserving our heritage strengthens cultural diplomacy and connects us with the world.

Dr. Jacob Wagner, Co-Founder of Creative City KC, leads Kansas City’s work within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, advancing cultural diplomacy, sustainability, and global partnerships through Kansas City Music.

As Dr. Jacob Wagner, Co-founder of Creative City KC, explains:

“The Annual Meeting is essential. It’s our opportunity to share the work we’re doing as Creative Cities, build solidarity across regions, and plan new collaborative initiatives. We can’t advance this work without coming together to learn, celebrate successes, and chart a shared path forward.”

In a time of rising global conflict and inequality, UNESCO’s mission is even more urgent.

“In these challenging times, when we’re seeing an escalation of state-sponsored violence and division, UNESCO’s value as a platform for peace is critical. We need to build peace and protect human rights, and that work has to start locally while being connected globally.” — Jacob Wagner, Director of Creative City KC

Being part of this network affirms Kansas City’s commitment to those values and ensures Kansas City Music continues to inspire, connect, and heal across borders.

This year’s Annual Meeting took place in Enghien-les-Bains, France, a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts. Delegates participated in plenary sessions, workshops, and the Mayors Forum—real working sessions to strengthen partnerships, share challenges, and celebrate successes.

After Enghien-les-Bains, Jacob Wagner traveled to Metz, France, for the dedicated Music Cities Subnetwork meeting. Metz isn’t just any city—it’s Kansas City’s newest Sister City, adding even more depth to our partnership.

These meetings offered a unique opportunity to deepen our connections, not only between Kansas City and our global peers, but also with our newest international partner city, all through the shared language of KC music, jazz, and the creative spirit that defines us.

Whether it’s a packed concert in the Vine Jazz District or a collaboration across continents, Kansas City Music is part of a global creative conversation.

These meetings weren’t just symbolic—they delivered real, meaningful outcomes for Kansas City Music. They strengthened our partnerships with cities around the world, enabling us to plan collaborative projects that address shared challenges and learn best practices for using culture and creativity to make cities more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable. The trip also marked an important moment as we celebrated Metz as our newest Sister City, deepening those ties and stepping into a leadership role to help guide the entire Music Cities Subnetwork.

We also highlighted the role of iconic venues like Knuckleheads Saloon in keeping Kansas City’s music scene vibrant and connected to global traditions. These efforts help us bring international perspectives back home—to downtown Kansas City, the Vine Jazz District, and all the venues where local musicians keep our heritage alive while pushing creative boundaries.

While there’s much to celebrate, there’s also real work ahead.

“The music industry is still shaped by a legacy of inequality, and the profit motive too often undermines creativity and the rights of artists. As cities, we have to do better. We need to value music’s power and promote access to culture as a global public good.” — Dr. Jacob Wagner, Co-Founder of Creative City KC

Supporting Kansas City Music means investing in local talent, backing upcoming concerts and special events, and ensuring our creative economy works for everyone. It also involves thoughtfully addressing new technologies like AI, which present both exciting opportunities and important concerns about protecting artists’ rights.

“AI is creating both opportunities and deep concerns about artists’ rights. We have a lot of work ahead to understand its impact on our cities and ensure we’re promoting the core principles of the 2022 Mondiacult Declaration.” —Dr. Jacob Wagner, Co-Founder of Creative City KC

It also means celebrating world-class cultural institutions like the Kansas City Museum that keep our history alive while nurturing the next generation of Kansas City musicians.

Kansas City is ready to lead these conversations—both locally and globally—to ensure the Kansas City Music remains an inclusive, sustainable, and globally connected force.

Kansas City’s leadership role in the Music Cities Subnetwork comes with ambitious goals for the next two years. We’re focused on developing better ways to measure the collective impact of our music scene and Music Cities worldwide, while also welcoming new cities into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Our plans include meeting with the United States Commission to UNESCO and our Permanent Delegation in Paris to strengthen support and visibility, as well as increasing local awareness of UNESCO’s mission and Kansas City’s vital role in it. These goals will ensure Kansas City Music remains at the forefront of global cultural leadership and sustainable development.

Kansas City Music and our UNESCO Creative City designation belong to all of us. Whether you’re a musician, community leader, policymaker, or someone who simply loves this city, you have a role to play in telling Kansas City’s story to the world. You can help by following Creative City KC on social media for updates on local and international projects, joining our mailing list to learn about events and collaborations, and attending local music events to support the venues and talent that keep Kansas City’s music scene alive.

We also invite you to visit cultural landmarks in the Vine Jazz District to experience our rich history firsthand, discover new favorite musicians at Knuckleheads Saloon or other local stages, and reach out if you’re interested in collaborating, learning more, or helping us promote Kansas City’s role as a UNESCO Creative City. By advocating for policies that center culture and creativity as essential to our city’s future, we can ensure Kansas City Music is recognized not only for its extraordinary legacy but for its leadership in building a more inclusive, sustainable, and connected world. Let’s make sure the world hears our story. Get involved today.

Kansas City Music is more than our past—it’s our future. By working together, supporting local talent, and championing our creative heritage on the global stage, we can ensure that Kansas City’s music scene continues to thrive for generations to come. Let’s celebrate what makes our city unique and share the power of Kansas City Music with the world.