Kütahya’s Expanding Cultural Horizon: New Partnerships and Longstanding Foundations

November, 2025 — Kütahya’s cultural diplomacy has broadened significantly in recent years. The most recent addition to this network is its sister-city agreement with the Denguélé Autonomous Region of Ivory Coast, formalized in August 2024. This emerging partnership focuses on regional development, cultural entrepreneurship, and creative-industry capacity building, marking a new chapter in Kütahya’s long history of international engagement.

A Partnership Built on Ceramic Heritage

Alongside this new connection, Kütahya continues to rely on the stability and depth of its longest partnership: its sister-city relationship with Pécs, Hungary, ‘The Borderless City’, established in 1975. Kütahya and Pécs share a cultural foundation shaped by the ancient art of ceramics. Kütahya’s long tradition of tile and porcelain production is reflected in its sister-city’s renowned Zsolnay ceramic legacy. This common heritage has supported practical collaboration through artisan exchanges, ceramics-focused workshops, and exhibitions that connect both cities’ craft communities.

Structured Cultural and Academic Cooperation

Over the years, the two cities have expanded cultural affinity into organized, multi-level cooperation. In 2019, under the project “Culture & Creativity- Strengthening Cooperation”, municipal teams and cultural experts from both cities, under the observation of UCLG-MEWA and other international third party figures, carried out mutual study visits and international workshops. The mission of the project was centered upon the exchange of approaches to cultural governance, sustainable creative-industry development, and heritage management.

Related events brought together artisans, academics, and cultural managers to discuss heritage preservation, ceramics innovation, and cultural tourism strategies. On an academic level,the University of Pécs and Kütahya Dumlupınar University have participated in mobility programs and expert exchanges in order to mutually benefit the educational and research trajectories of both cities.

Broader International Engagement

While the Pécs partnership remains one of utmost importance due to its longevity and depth, Kütahya has a history of seeking out international collaborations and continues to expand its network, eager to foster global connectivity.

In 2017, a delegation from Kütahya, including UNESCO ‘Living Human Treasure’ Mehmet Gürsoy and members of the municipality, traveled to Icheon, South Korea to participate in a constructive knowledge-sharing exchange in ceramics innovation and UNESCO creative city best-practices. A sister-city relationship was established as a symbol of the visit’s success.. Other international sister-city alliances include those made with Ristan(Uzbekistan), Montecatini(Italy), Shariin Gol(Mongolia), Ganja(Azerbaijan), San Juan(Philiphines), as well as Gaza(Palestine).

Partnership with Manises, Spain, another major ceramics hub, has taken shape through participation in the Manises Ceramics Festival in addition to contributions to other international exhibitions organized under the UNESCO Creative Cities network. Kütahya’s involvement in these events underscores its commitment to sharing its ceramic culture while learning from other leading craft cities.

In addition to these numerous exchanges, team members of the Kütahya Innovation Design Hub/KiDH initiative continue to activate study visits in cities with strong creative cultural identities such as Istanbul, Avanos, Paris, Amsterdam, Delft, Faenza and beyond. By gathering concrete understanding on how these cities maintain sustainable ecosystems, KiDH is helping to pave the way forward for Kütahya’s continued development as a UNESCO Creative City.

Looking Ahead, Together

Although these partnerships all vary in scope, a clear pattern emerges: Kütahya actively seeks out collaborations with cities that share its profound dedication to cultural heritage and sustainable development. Each connection—whether formalized through a sister-city agreement or developed through ongoing artistic exchange—enriches Kütahya’s cultural landscape. Through each extended hand, the city continues to establish fertile ground for the steady growth of its role as a capital figure of international cooperation with aims of preserving the wisdom of the past while nurturing the emerging blooms of the future.