A Norman Foster designed meetings venue has thrown its beautiful curves behind Valencia's status as the world's capital of design.
The partnership between Valencia Conference Centre and World Design Capital 2022 aims to enhance the status of the city’s creative industries and institutions through a series of joint activities beginning in 2021 and developing into 2022.
Valencia's successful bid in 2019 saw the southeastern Spanish city named World Design Capital 2022, a biennial designation celebrating cities that use design to improve economic, social and cultural life.
"The Valencia Conference Centre has always been one of the best examples of design applied to space,” CEO Valencia World Design Capital 2022, Xavi Calvo said.
“For us, and with a view to the international events we are planning for 2022, it is an honour to be a part of this agreement to work together on the image of the city.”
Valencia Conference Centre and World Design Capital 2022 will use the partnership to bolster the national and international outreach of the Valencian design and creativity, two key assets of “a prosperous, innovative, inclusive, creative and sustainable city.”
“We intend to be a partner for World Design Capital Valencia 2022, making our building available for any congresses scheduled as well as for any other type of meeting that needs to be held in a venue of these characteristics," Conference Centre's managing director, Sylvia Andrés said.
Partnerships and collaboration played a crucial role in securing the event. World Design Organisation’s general secretary, Bertrand Derome said that the committee had placed great value on “the precision, rigour and professionalism” of Valencia’s candidature throughout the entire process, as well as the “cohesion and strength” of the sector.
Calvo added that “It is very noteworthy that this project has managed to bring together Valencian political groups and governments, to inspire professionals in all areas of design, in addition to attracting private companies from various sectors and arousing the interest of local, national and international media.”
Previous cities that have been designated World Design Capital in previous years include Turin in 2008, Seoul in 2010, Helsinki in 2012, Cape Town in 2014, Taipei in 2016, Mexico City in 2018 and Lille, which is currently getting ready for 2020.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
