Norwich, city of literature
dal 4/11/2012 al 4/11/2012
Segnalato da
4/11/2012
Norwich, city of literature
Portcullis House-House of Commons, London
Norwich celebrates being England's first and the world's 6th UNESCO City of Literature. Norwich's literary tradition goes back more than 900 years and includes being home to the first book published in English by Julian of Norwich, the first recognisable novel.
“I’m delighted that Norwich is England’s first UNESCO City of Literature. Many congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to bring it about, from Sir Thomas Browne onwards, and congratulations to the city of Norwich for being such an inspiration and home to so many fine writers, now and in the past and in the future.” Philip Pullman
The City of Norwich is celebrating its position as England’s first and the world’s sixth UNESCO City of Literature with a celebratory event at the House of Lords on Monday 5th November. The event brings together writers from around the world as well as cultural critics and key partners in celebration of England’s first literary city. Those attending include Elif Shafak, Lord Jeffrey Archer, Mariella Frostrup, and many more.
Writers’ Centre Norwich was informed in May 2012 that Norwich would be joining Edinburgh, Melbourne, Iowa City, Dublin and Reykjavik as a UNESCO City of Literature after a three year bidding process.
Writer, Ian McEwan says:
“I’m delighted by the news. Literature has deep roots in the beautiful city of Norwich and it was a natural first choice for UNESCO. I’m happy too for personal reasons - Norwich is where my own writing life began. Writers have known for centuries that Norwich is a dreamy city.”
As celebrated in the bid, Norwich’s literary tradition goes back more than 900 years and includes being home to the first book published in English by a woman (Julian of Norwich), the first recognisable novel, the first blank verse, the first provincial library and newspaper, the first British MA in Creative Writing (whose first student was Ian McEwan), the first UK City of Refuge for persecuted writers and the busiest and most used public library for each of the past five years.
As well as marking Norwich’s fine literary heritage, the success of the bid consolidates Norwich’s contemporary strengths and ambitious future plans. The flagship project of Norwich’s UNESCO City of Literature programme is the International Centre for Writing which will become a world leading centre for creative writing, defending and promoting the best in world literature. In April 2012 the project won £3,000,000 from Arts Council England’s capital programme.
UNESCO City of Literature status will also enable WCN and its partners to increase economic investment in the region, promote international collaborations and engage young people with reading and writing in new and exciting ways.
The status is permanent and was won after a bidding process led by Writers’ Centre Norwich that involved writers, readers and key partners including Arts Council England, Norwich City Council, University of East Anglia, Norfolk County Council, the British Centre for Literary Translation and others.
Info
Katy Carr, Communications Director
katy.carr@writerscentrenorwich.org.uk
T 01603 877177 M 07919 312155
Chris Gribble, Chief Executive
chris.gribble@writerscentrenorwich.org.uk
T 01603 877177 M 07800 662879
www.writerscentrenorwich.org.uk
Portcullis House-House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
Free Admission