IMPACT

“Our UNESCO City of Literature status shapes Exeter’s vision to innovate and lead on well-being, cultural literacy, creative making, and heritage innovation to build a city where everyone thrives.

It was a fantastic achievement for Exeter to be recognised as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2019.

The status has been hugely beneficial in allowing Exeter to be seen nationally and internationally as a city of reading and storytelling—a place where literature and culture thrive.”

Councillor Phil Bialyk
Leader,
Exeter City Council

Impact Report 2019 - 2023

Every four years, each City of Literature sends a report to UNESCO highlighting the wealth of literary activity and industry in the area. Our first report spans Exeter City of Literature’s activity from 2019 to 2023.

In the first four years of having the UNESCO City of Literature designation, Exeter City of Literature has raised over £870,000 from public and private grants. The wealth of literary and storytelling groups and organisations in the city have also benefited from the UNESCO designation.

Highlights between 2019-2023 include:

  • The Exeter City of Literature charity has created three permanent job roles and hired over 45 local freelancers, facilitators, and writers.

  • 15 writers, artists, and researchers from international UNESCO Cities of Literature were brought to Exeter to work with the University of Exeter, Bookbag bookshop, Devon and Exeter Institution, Libraries Unlimited, MakeTank, among others.

  • Six students from the University of Plymouth were sent to Angouleme City of Literature for the International Comics Festival. Plymouth student James Taylor won the UNESCO Literary Project prize. 

  • A Visit Exeter campaign to promote the city as a literary destination reached nearly 1 million people across the UK.

  • The charity conceived of and launched the Penguin Book Vending Machine in 2023, and over £8,000 of books were bought from it that year.

  • 40 trainee bibliotherapists have completed the Exeter City of Literature Introduction to Bibliotherapy Skills course at Exeter College.

Between 2019 - 2023, Exeter City of Literature has raised over £870,000 from public and private grants.

Between 2019 - 2023, Exeter City of Literature has raised over £870,000 from public and private grants.

“For over 1,000 years, Exeter and Devon have attracted passionate readers and storytellers to its beautiful surroundings, and never has that been truer than today.

Today, the literary sector in Exeter is generating more jobs and creative opportunities for residents and visitors than ever before. Exeter City of Literature believes in the power of words to imagine new possibilities for this world.

By harnessing the transformative power of literature, we will make a lasting impact on our city and beyond.”

Anna Cohn Orchard
Executive Director,
Exeter City of Literature

TESTIMONIALS

“As the national development agency for creativity and culture, one of the Arts Council key roles is to our cultural sector to be world-leading: generating new ideas and developing talent from every community.

We’re fully supportive of Exeter City of Literature’s commitment to bringing the power of words and stories to new audiences, and we’re excited by their plans to celebrate and promote writers from Exeter and Devon.”

Phil Gibby
Area Director, South West
Arts Council England

Zainab Juma
Head of Brand, Penguin

“When Exeter City of Literature approached us about the Penguin Books Vending Machine, we knew immediately that it was the perfect way to celebrate our origins.

We’re especially pleased that the vending machine will benefit Bookbag, a local independent bookstore, and Exeter City of Literature who do brilliant work celebrating Exeter’s literary history and making books and reading more accessible in the local community.”

“I’m delighted to be a part of this year’s Book Market with Exeter City of Literature. The Book Market is such an important date in the literary calendar in the South West, bringing local readers, independent book shops and authors together in the striking setting of Exeter Cathedral.

Promoting a love of reading and books in this vibrant and accessible way is key to bringing literature alive for readers across the area.”

Sarah Pearse
Bestselling Author

"We are excited to be partnering with
Exeter City of Literature and its writers, artists and translators.

I believe this is the start of long-lasting relationships and future collaborations, especially around climate change, a pressing topic both countries are concerned about.”

Laura Prinsloo
Jakarta UNESCO
City of Literature

“I really learned how a conversation around books and reading can have such a profound effect on someone, and make such a positive difference to them.

I've found the whole experience very humbling and eye opening, and it has really changed me. I can’t wait to use these skills more in my work.”

Jenny
Bibliotherapy Trainee

“We’re delighted to support Exeter UNESCO City of Literature in its quest to discover Exeter’s favourite book. Reading for pleasure is hugely valued by the Arts Council for all the joy, excitement and empathy that great stories deliver as well as the boost that reading can give to mental wellbeing.

It’s wonderful to see this vibrant programme connecting people with books across the year and celebrating reading throughout the city and beyond.”

James Urquhart
Interim Director of Literature,
Arts Council England

“Exeter’s UNESCO designation has been immensely enriching for our activity. It has allowed us to bring our voice to an international audience, but also learn directly from Creative Cities around the world, enabling research pathways that were simply not possible before.”

Richard Mansell
Senior Lecturer in Translation,
University of Exeter

“In May 2023, I spent three productive weeks in Barcelona as part of an international writing residency sponsored by Exeter City of Literature.

I was able to work on crucial structural edits for my novel and engage meaningfully with the creative life and history of the city. Meeting fellow residents and exchanging ideas across cultures broadened my horizons, and we are still in contact today.”

Lucy Holland
Bestselling Author

“Exeter has a rich heritage as a centre for literature spanning over a millennium. From the Exeter Book (itself inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World programme) to the ‘birthplace’ of Penguin Books, the city has long embraced and supported both writers and readers.

The UNESCO City of Literature designation is an apt and important recognition for Exeter, and supports the vital and inspiring work of those who work to continue to work passionately to celebrate, and progress, the city’s rich written-word heritage.”

John Carmichael
UK National Commission for UNESCO