About the award

Östersund and the Jämtland Härjedalen Region are a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. We received the designation in 2010 from the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) and remain the only region in Sweden to have been awarded it. This speaks volumes about our ingenious food creators and our fantastic culinary craftsmanship. It says nothing less than that we are Sweden’s most taste-conscious region!

Small-scale craftsmanship

The foundation of our culinary craft is all the enthusiastic and food-focused people in the region; farmers, chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary entrepreneurs. They form a creative cluster for the exchange of experience and inspiration. Another important driving force is our national center for artisanal food, Eldrimner, which offers knowledge, support, and inspiration to chefs and small-scale food producers in the region, the country, and the Nordic countries.

Throughout the county, it is easy to enjoy the local gastronomy. Here you will find both culinary excellence and locally produced products of the highest quality, and together we work to continue offering the Jämtland taste of clean, fair, and truly good food to as many people as possible.

What has happened since we received the award?

The UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy designation and the extensive network we gain access to through the UNESCO Creative Cities Network provide the region’s food producers with fantastic opportunities. Here are some examples of what has happened since we received the award in 2010:

  • Approximately 60 students and teachers have participated in various Erasmus exchanges to broaden their knowledge of artisanal food.

  • Over 50 food and culture entrepreneurs in the region have participated in various types of culinary events, study trips, and exchanges around the world.

  • Local businesses have hosted study visits or organized workshops, festivals, and other events within the framework of the network.
  • Mid Sweden University has launched the international gastronomy program Food City Design, a unique collaboration between Mid Sweden University, the universities of Parma, Alicante, and Bergen, and the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
  • During the years 2023–2026, exchanges are being conducted between two gastronomy cities, Denia in Spain and Odensalaskolan in Östersund. Two specialized schools with a focus on hotel and restaurant management visit each other to experience the gastronomy and the region.
  • Since 2014, a harvest festival has been organized where local farmers open their farms to visitors and offer local food and crafts for sale. The festival has become a major destination, attracting thousands of visitors. Over the years, Creative City of Gastronomy Östersund has, among other things, collaborated on and co-financed the Harvest Festival’s communication work.
  • In 2016, Östersund hosted the UCCN Annual Meeting, welcoming 270 international delegates from some 50 countries who, among other things, experienced a gastronomy and culture week. The annual meeting was a success, and we were honored with the Swedish UNESCO Prize in 2017.

Facts about the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network was established in 2004 to support international cooperation between cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. Within the network, cities designated by UNESCO work within one of eight fields: crafts and folk art, media arts, film, design, architecture, gastronomy, literature, or music. The network’s objectives are to:

  • Stimulate and strengthen creative cities’ initiatives to make creativity an essential part of urban development.
  • Strengthen all parts of the work with cultural activities, goods, and services: creation, production, distribution, and dissemination.
  • Develop hubs for creativity and innovation and expand opportunities for artists and other professionals in the cultural sector.
  • Improve access to and participation in cultural life, including cultural goods and services, especially for marginalized groups and individuals.
  • Integrate culture and creativity into local development plans and strategies.

The purpose of the network, which consists of more than 400 cities in over 100 countries, is to strengthen businesses and actors within the creative and cultural sectors in the county over the long term. The work is integrated with the regional food and food strategy and in relation to Agenda 2030, with a particular focus on Sustainable Development Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities and Goal 17 on global partnerships.

Do you want to get involved?

Get in touch and we will tell you more about what is happening in terms of events, trade fairs, and exchanges—and how you can take part in the network.