YORK is now creatively linked to cities such as Berlin, Sao Paulo, Vienna and Helsinki after city wide illuminating project joined a global media arts network.

Illuminating York has joined Connecting Cities as an associated partner, linking it to other creative cities including Linz, Istanbul, Brussels, Madrid, Montreal and Melbourne.

Connecting Cities is a world wide network of digital facades and artists, using media arts to explore urban issues.

Supported by the Culture Programme of the European Union, the network also pursues an artistic research and exchange programme across member cities.

The international recognition for York’s creative artists and institutions comes as the city awaits the decision on its application to become a UNESCO City of Media Arts, due in November.

Councillor Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “The vision of our UNESCO City of Media Arts bid is for York to be an exciting meeting point for the ideas and creativity of the world.

"In being accepted into the Connecting Cities network we have taken a big step towards this endeavour as it enriches our media arts experiences with a new dimension provided by our new international partners.

"We hope this will be to the delight of Illuminating York’s audiences, whilst also providing a new and exciting international platform on which the innovation and creativity of our cultural institutions and practitioners can shine."