Manchester rated Excellent by UNESCO as a Creative City of Literature - what the report said about the city
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Manchester has been given an Excellent rating by global arts, culture, heritage and science body UNESCO after the city submitted its first report as a City of Literature.
UNESCO was impressed by the city’s commitment to the written word and the world of books, heaping praise on everything from its response to the Covid-19 pandemic to the Festival of Libraries event.
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Hide AdManchester joined the international body’s Creative Cities Network in 2017 as a City of Literature, which recognises the significance of writing and books to a city. Manchester’s cultural, political and educational leaders have responded with delight to the verdict and the way it has brought different institutions across the city together.
What did UNESCO say about Manchester as a City of Literature?
Manchester submitted its first report as a City of Literature on the first four years of being a member of the Creative Cities Network, covering work done in the city between 2017 and 2021.
UNESCO called Manchester’s report “high quality” and “a good example for other cities to follow”. The cultural organisation praised the city’s work supporting vulnerable residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, its commitment to poetry, its vibrant publishing sector,, its partnership working in literature development and its approach to multilingualism.
The city’s annual week-long Festival of Libraries was described as “a most impressive initiative… [attracting] great attention both locally and internationally”. The review noted the active political involvement in the City of Literature designation from both the city’s biggest two universities and Manchester City Council.
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Hide AdThe review also praised the city’s focus on benefits for residents and how Manchester was contributing to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In conclusion, UNESCO said: “The report reveals that Manchester makes literature a driving force for the city’s sustainability.”
Manchester’s work as a City of Literature involves the council, The University of Manchester (which contains within it both the Centre for New Writing and the beautiful and historic John Rylands Library), Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Literature Festival and the city’s community of writers and literature professionals.
Together they have worked to deliver a programme of events related to the written word. In 2023 this includes International Mother Language Day to celebrate the huge number and variety of languages spoken in the city, the third year of the Festival of Libraries in June, the Northern Publishing Fair in April and Manchester Literature Festival in October, which will feature talks, readings and Q&As over three weeks as well as a warm-up event in March.
What has Manchester said about the Excellent rating from UNESCO?
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, president and vice-chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “The UNESCO City of Literature designation has fostered a true ‘Manchester spirit’ of collaboration between our universities, the city and the city’s diverse literary communities.
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Hide Ad“This report recognises that transformational work, and we are very proud of the contribution of our staff and students to a great literary, creative environment in what our colleague Professor Jeanette Winterson has called an ‘alchemical city’.
“The City of Literature has fostered collaborations across the city on many flagship initiatives, from research on creativity and well-being, to working with writers through Manchester Literature Festival and Carcanet (publisher of another Nobel Prize winner in 2020). It has also led to the development of public engagement activities for schools and libraries and festivals, a key part of our social responsibility agenda.
“Colleagues at our University’s Centre for New Writing share the City of Literature’s mission to discover and support emerging writers, and to develop projects which both strengthen our graduates’ employability skills and offer opportunities for them to become part of Manchester’s diverse, evolving literary community.”
Coun Luthfur Rahman OBE, deputy leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Being a UNESCO City of Literature is such a great achievement for the city - we are one of 42 cities in the world that have this prestigious designation, and we’re proud to showcase the diverse talent of our city on the international stage.
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Hide Ad“We have built on the strong foundations of Manchester’s rich literary history, and alongside our partners from the city’s universities and literary community we have harnessed their collective creative energies to launch and create events, libraries and spaces where words and literature can be celebrated.
“We have supported over 100 Manchester based creatives to accomplish their dreams and secure paid opportunities in the creative industry. This is a fantastic achievement for the city and shows that we are investing in local talent and the cultural future of Manchester. We’re excited for what the next years will bring!”
Malcolm Press CBE, vice-chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “Manchester Met’s involvement with City of Literature is central to our contribution to the region as a leading civic institution, and to our commitment to research and education that advances sustainable development through culture.
“The designation has raised the profile of our city as a beacon destination for creative industries, cultural tourism and students of the arts and humanities, and established the reputation of its literature ecosystem as an exemplar of creative excellence and inclusivity. I’m proud that our university is playing a key role in this work, and excited to see how it develops.”
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