ABOUT US
What is Exeter UNESCO City of Literature?
Exeter City of Literature exists to celebrate and support literary heritage and activity, locally and globally.
We believe in the power of words to imagine new possibilities for this world.
Our vision is for everyone to love stories and storytelling.
The only City of Literature in the south of England - and one of only 53 globally - the title celebrates Devon’s rich heritage linked to some of the country’s most famous writers, including Agatha Christie, Ted Hughes, Michael Morpurgo, and Hilary Mantel.
Exeter Cathedral houses the Exeter Book, a 10th-century anthology recognised by UNESCO as ‘'the foundation volume of English Literature'' and ‘one of the world's principal cultural artefacts’.
The UNESCO City of Literature designation means we can bring more skills, events, and opportunities to Exeter and Devon through an international network. We are a registered charity and an Arts Council supported organisation.
We are committed to supporting creativity and culture in our communities; whether that’s through creative projects, bringing authors and events to the region, or providing new forms of wellbeing support through literature, we are committed to helping celebrate local and global stories.
Want to learn more about Exeter City of Literature?
Our Story - How we became a UNESCO Creative City
Visions & Values - What informs Exeter City of Literature’s work
Projects & Impact - Our accomplishments past and present
People & Partners - Everyone we work with across Devon
UNESCO Network - The global links we have made
OUR STORY
Exeter was awarded UNESCO City of Literature designation in 2019 in recognition of “outstanding contributions to culture and creativity” and the wealth of literary heritage in the city, thanks to a city-wide multi-partner bid.
In late 2021, we became an independent charity supported by Arts Council England and, with support from our other Partners, we are poised to become an integral part of the cultural and creative landscape.
VISION & VALUES
Exeter City of Literature has an established set of values that inform our work, shaped by UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals and Arts Council aims, as well as our own team vision.
PROJECTS & IMPACT
Since 2019 Exeter City of Literature has been busy working with various partners in Exeter & Devon, as well as collaborating with our fellow Cities of Literature around the world. Explore the projects we’re working on and the impact we’ve had on Exeter’s cultural scene.
PEOPLE & PARTNERS
What really makes our work worthwhile is the people we work with. From bringing big-name authors to the city or giving developing talent new opportunities, working with big organisations with a wide reach or grass-roots collectives with a fresh take on things, it's been a privilege and a joy to meet people, hear their stories, and work with our Partnership Network.
UNESCO NETWORK
Find out more about the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and what it means to be a part of it, and explore the Sustainable Development Goals that underpin it.