---
title: Our Annual Report 2023
date: 2024-08-15T14:27:57Z
modified: 2025-08-15T08:41:16Z
permalink: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/2024/08/15/our-annual-report-2023/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: Our network’s growth in 2023 was particularly significant. We became an independent registered charity, we welcomed five new cities—Bengaluru, Chicago, Kyiv, Rio de Janeiro, and Shenzhen—further strengthening our global reach; and we hosted our annual Summit in Latin America for the first time, in the vibrant city of São Paulo.
wpid: 173171
categories:
  - Report
topic:
  - Global Advocacy
  - Insight
  - Network
  - Policymaking
  - Summit
featured_image: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Hong-Kong_16_People_Report22_River-of-Light-scaled.jpg"
featured_image_alt: Image of people sitting at the River of Light in Hong Kong
---

## The Annual Report 2023 highlights key achievements that underscore the Forum’s growing influence



Discover more in the World Cities Culture Forum Annual Report 2023.

Our network’s growth in 2023 was particularly significant. We became an independent registered charity, we welcomed five new cities—Bengaluru, Chicago, Kyiv, Rio de Janeiro, and Shenzhen—further strengthening our global reach; and we hosted our annual Summit in Latin America for the first time, in the vibrant city of São Paulo.

![City landscape of Sao Paulo](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sao-Paulo1.jpg)

[We led research in 12 Sub-Saharan African cities ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/publication/african-alternatives-the-future-of-creative-cities/)in collaboration with the British Council and Andani.Africa and collaborated with King’s College London to publish our [‘Creative Recovery’ Report on the impact of COVID-19 on culture in cities](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/publication/creative-recovery-the-role-of-cultural-policy-in-shaping-post-covid-urban-futures/).

During our World Cities Culture Summit in São Paulo, we launched the [São Paulo Manifesto](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/2023/11/28/the-sao-paulo-manifesto-goal-for-culture/), with the purpose of seeing culture be made a dedicated UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) post 2030.

![Group photo of city delegates at World Cities Culture Summit in São Paulo. Image Courtesy of City of São Paulo](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1-8.jpg)

City delegates at the São Paulo Summit. Image Courtesy of City of São PauloDiscover more in the World Cities Culture Forum Annual Report 2023.