Exeter is a UNESCO
City of Literature
Exeter was awarded a 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 multi-partner bid.
Exeter City of Literature believes in the power of words to imagine new possibilities for our world. As a charity, we champion stories and storytellers locally and globally, working with partners in the community and with UNESCO Cities of Literature around the world.
Introduction to Bibliotherapy and Counselling Skills - January 2025
First launched in 2021, this unique and innovative course is the first of its kind in the country. In January 2025, anyone interested in developing their skills in counselling and literature can apply to this paid course.
Introduction to Bibliotherapy and Counselling Skills is an ambitious course offering unique skills to counsellors, those who work in community-focused organisations, and those interested in using literature as a way to deepen their wellbeing offer to clients.
Silent Book Club in Exeter is returning in 2025 with even more sessions!
Silent Book Club is a global community of readers and introverts, with more than 1000 chapters in 50 countries around the world led by local volunteers.
Exeter City of Literature began hosting the Exeter branch of Silent Book Club in April 2024. In 2025 we’re expanding to two sessions a month!
If you would like to attend and would benefit from a book token to purchase a brand new release to read at Silent Book Club please contact us and we'd be happy to help.
Upcoming Literary Events across Exeter & Devon
Book Nooks in Warm Spaces Fundraiser
We’re proud to be reviving a wintery reading project from last year - Book Nooks in Warm Spaces. This public fundraising campaign returns for a second winter with the goal of purchasing new books for designated Warm Spaces in Exeter and Devon.
Parts of Exeter and Devon have some of the lowest-literacy wards in the country, which creates significant obstacles to social mobility - through Book Nooks in Warm Spaces we hope to change this by making books and reading accessible and fun for those in need.
Bringing Bibliotherapy to the Community
“I always feel more connected and inspired afterwards, and likely with another book or two to add to the to read list!” — Bibliotherapy Trainee Harula
Bibliotherapy is a therapeutic approach that uses literature to help clients better understand and cope with the world around them.
Would you like to bring a Bibliotherapy in the Community session to your staff, team, clients, or volunteer group? Trainees from the Introduction to Bibliotherapy Skills course can provide bibliotherapy offerings across Devon.
Click the button below to request a session or to learn more
about this project.
Bridging Cities - Exeter x Jakarta
Exeter City of Literature and Jakarta City of Literature have been working together since January on an international collaboration that explores the climate crisis through creative writing.
We commissioned three local writers from each city to create new writing that examines the disproportionate impacts of climate change on the Global South and how to improve conversations around the intersection of climate change and equity.
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Exeter heads to Edinburgh
October marked the twenty-year anniversary of Edinburgh becoming the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature! The City celebrated by hosting the Cities of Literature Annual Conference in October 2024.
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An Interview With Langrove Publishing
We chat with Erin Allgrove from independent Devon publisher Langrove Publishing about Bosun Bob, Devon’s publishing scene and her favourite reading spot.
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City Reads Celebration Evening
On Tuesday 10th September, we celebrated the culmination of City Reads and Exeter’s fifth year as a UNESCO City of Literature at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
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Places of Independence
Several UNESCO Cities of Literature recently collaborated by sharing a piece of their city that represents independence and freedom for an outdoor exhibition in Lviv City of Literature.
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Exeter UNESCO City of Literature Visits Nanjing
Thanks to a grant from the British Council, Exeter UNESCO City of Literature had the opportunity to visit Nanjing UNESCO City of Literature - see what we got up to in June 2024!
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We unveil our Bridging Cities writers
Exeter City of Literature and Jakarta City of Literature are commissioning three writers from Devon and three writers from Jakarta to create climate focused writing.
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Barcelona and Exeter exchange authors
Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson and Sebastià Portell were this year’s writers involved in our annual International Writers Exchange with Barcelona UNESCO City of Literature.
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New Maps to celebrate UNESCO designation!
Two free maps have been released to celebrate Exeter and the UK’s UNESCO designations, one from the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the other from Exeter City of Lit.
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Book Nooks In Warm Spaces
In 2023, we launched a new campaign to make reading more accessible across Exeter and Devon - we wanted to put books into the hands of those that needed them most.
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Arts Council Funding News!
After becoming a charity and independent organisation in late 2021, Arts Council England have awarded Exeter UNESCO City of Literature National Portfolio Organisation status.
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17 Books for 17 SDGs 2024
We are highlighting local literature as part of a global project with other Cities of Literature to show how books from Exeter & Devon reflect the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Exeter City of Literature finds the city’s favourite book with City Reads
To celebrate five years as a UNESCO City of Literature, the people of Exeter voted on Exeter’s Favourite Book in 2024.
After months of voting, the winner was announced in September as The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien!
A fitting victor given its special connection to Exeter, with the inspirations for Middle Earth stemming from The Exeter Book, a 10th-century anthology of Anglo-Saxon poetry and riddles that resides at Exeter Cathedral. Find out more about Exeter’s literary history here.
The Penguin Book
Vending Machine
comes home to Exeter!
We loved partnering with Penguin Books and Great Western Railway to bring something special to Exeter…
We’ve Unveiled New Literary Artwork at Exeter St Davids Train Station!
A permanent installation of new artwork was unveiled at Exeter St David’s station to celebrate Exeter’s UNESCO City of Literature status on World Book Day (Thursday 7th March).
The artwork, created by local artists Billy Ruffian (an artist alias of Isabel Keen) and Jack Ratcliff, honours Devon’s rich literary history and is supported by Great Western Railway’s (GWR) Customer and Community Improvement Fund.
The artwork located on the footbridge and lift footbridge at the station will be accessible to commuters travelling through Exeter St David’s.
From University of Exeter alum releasing science fiction debuts to a food writer’s foray into murder mysteries, this list is a fantastic overview of new releases in 2024 from Devon writers. Is this list missing a Devon author with a 2024 release we should know about? If it’s available on Bookshop.org - contact us!