Ambassador Ibiyinka Alao and Mayor George McGill recognized Fort Smith as a UN international city for artistic and cultural innovation in peace building and economic growth. It joined the ranks of only nine other cities worldwide with this designation, which recognizes cities that have supported the arts.
Yes, sandwiched on the list between the Scottish city of Aberdeen, and Athens–the city which gave the world Prometheus Bound–Fort Smith is now “one of only a handful of international arts locations throughout the world,” whatever that means.
[UPDATE: 9JUL21]
Fort Smith has been catfished. The ol’ Nigerian UN arts ambassador trick.