Exeter awarded UNESCO City of Literature status

Exeter has been awarded prestigious UNESCO City of Literature status, it has been announced.

It is the only city in the UK to be given the status in this round, and joins 65 other cities across the world who have become part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

“This is fantastic news for Exeter,” said City Council Leader Phil Bialyk. ”Once again, this is international recognition for the city and its cultural offer,” he added.

“Exeter spends more on culture than most other cities in the country. Many of the 66 cities that have become part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network across the world are much bigger cities with larger populations, demonstrating that Exeter is once again punching above its weight.”

Cllr Rachel Sutton, Lead Councillor for Climate and Culture, said: “I am absolutely thrilled with the news - it is a huge honour for Exeter that will unlock exciting new opportunities for everyone in the city to engage in culture.”

Exeter’s bid was very much a collaboration of people and organisations across the city, including Exeter Culture, but the bid came from the City Council.

Those involved in the bid were: Exeter City Council, Exeter Culture, The University of Exeter, Devon County Council, Exeter College, Libraries Unlimited, Literature Works, Exeter Cathedral and Exeter Canal & Quay Trust. Literature Works, the literature development agency for south-west England, wrote the bid in collaboration with the steering group.

Dom Jinks, Director of Exeter Culture, said: “This is so positive for Exeter. The bid made much of the city’s wide variety of historical assets. But it is actually much more about culture supporting the well-being of everyone in the city today, including those who may not currently see themselves engaging with culture.

“The partnership behind the bid in Exeter was very strong, and this success is down to the strength of that partnership.”

Exeter’s bid centred around 1,000 years of unbroken history around reading, recognising The Exeter Book at Exeter Cathedral but also about what reading and writing means to residents in Exeter.

The Exeter Book is one of the oldest and best-preserved collections of old English verse in the world, and is older than famous texts such as Beowulf.

As one of the bid’s significant partners, The University of Exeter hosts the archives of works connected to famous writers such as William Golding, Ted Hughes, Agatha Christie, Daphne du Maurier and Sir John Betjeman. The Creative Writing department has strong links with a number of African cities, which is important to UNESCO’s sustainable development aims.

Exeter’s bid also focused on the strong connections between literature and wellbeing, which is an area of specialism at the University’s Welcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health. It also ties in with Exeter’s Sport England Delivery pilot work on improving life for all.

Janice Kay, Provost of the University of Exeter, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved in the bid. It clearly demonstrates UNESCO’s recognition of Exeter’s literary heritage and its aspirations for developing a pioneering programme connecting health and wellbeing with literature. We are delighted that the University will play an integral and unique part in this exciting programme.”

Although the designation is in perpetuity, the Creative Cities Network operates on a four-year programme development schedule, so the next step for Exeter is to apply to the Arts Council for funding.