“I am absolutely thrilled with the news – it is a huge honour for Exeter that will unlock exciting new opportunities for everyone in the city to engage in culture.”

Councillor Rachel Sutton, Deputy Leader and previous Portfolio Holder for Climate and Culture, Exeter City Council

“This is so positive for Exeter. The bid made much of the city’s wide variety of historical assets, but it’s actually much more about culture supporting the well-being of everyone in the city today, including those who may not currently see themselves engaging with culture.”

Dom Jinks, Director, Exeter Culture

“The City of Literature programme offers great collaborative opportunities for the University’s students and researchers. The University and city has many international links with literature as well as holding archives from Daphne du Maurier, Charles Causley, Agatha Christie, William Golding and Ted Hughes, writers with global reputations. This initiative will pioneer new approaches to reading and writing and ways of sharing this work across the city and region. We are proud to host and support the UNESCO team at the University.”

Professor Janice Kay CBE PFHEA, 2019 Provost

“Devon County Council is delighted to support Exeter’s City of Literature programme, which not only reflects and celebrates Devon’s rich cultural history but also provides a springboard for new literature and expression in the city and wider county. Working with Libraries Unlimited and wider partners, the Council is keen to see literature and creativity as part of a Devon’s Renaissance.”

Devon County Council spokesperson

“Exeter College is delighted to play an active role in Exeter's UNESCO City of Literature status. As a large tertiary college, based in the city centre and serving the wider regional needs of communities from across the South West, the college is proud to offer a range of courses and programmes to young people and adult learners alike. We are passionate about the benefits of education and the impact high-quality education can have on the lives of individuals and the region more generally. We believe wholeheartedly in supporting engagement in not only literature, but the range of art forms, technical skills and well-being attributes which the City of Literature status brings to our students, the people of Exeter and the South West region.”

“Libraries Unlimited is proud to be part of Exeter's UNESCO City of Literature. This is a celebration of the creativity and culture of Exeter and the county of Devon. It's exciting to be working with other creative organisations in the city and to be connecting with our communities to develop cultural events and activities. Our libraries are based throughout Devon and Torbay, reaching people of all ages and backgrounds in urban and rural communities. We are developing new library projects to inspire and engage. The City of Literature sustainable development goals offer a broad focus, enabling us to engage with our communities to develop relevant and impactful library initiatives.”

“We are a charity with a mission to support and promote the enjoyment of words and stories for all and we were appointed to write Exeter’s successful bid to UNESCO on behalf of the steering group. On behalf of Exeter Canal and Quay Trust, we are also leading on the development of Quay Words, an exciting new hub for literature at the historic Exeter Custom House on the Quayside.”

Helen Chaloner, CEO, Literature Works

“Exeter Cathedral’s library has been at the heart of this city for nearly one thousand years. The City of Literature project offers us exciting opportunities to share our literary treasures and to collaborate with our partners, engaging with new and diverse audiences, inspiring people across Exeter and beyond.”

Canon James Mustard, Exeter Cathedral

“We are committed to developing Exeter’s magnificent Custom House as a literature hub for the City of Literature. For over 300 years it has served as a gateway linking Exeter to the world. Now, with support from Arts Council England, it is set to inspire future generations of readers and writers of all ages.”

Exeter’s Historic Quayside

“For RAMM, being part of the UNESCO City of Literature programme is very important. Exeter has a long and rich history as a city of literature, and in recent years the museum has established a track record of working with writers and artists to bring our collections to life. Our work with people with mental health issues, dementia and people experiencing social isolation and loneliness has shown us that engaging with culture can have a really positive effect on people’s wellbeing. We are delighted to be part of a project that has this at its heart.”

“The UNESCO City of Literature programme is incredibly important to the Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health, as we work towards fulfilling our vision: to foster transformative research by engaging with diverse partners, to create and sustain cultures that enable health and well-being across the life course. The UNESCO City of Literature programme enables us to collaborate with city-wide creative industries, policymakers, and social, cultural, and historical organisations to ensure that, at all stages, the Centre’s research is influenced, created, conducted and engaged in, with, and by, people whose lives are affected by the research and its outcomes.”

“Exeter’s newfound status as a UNESCO City of Literature is testament to the exemplary collaborative working that takes place across the city. At the Arts Council, we fundamentally believe in the transformative power that creativity and culture can have on both the local economy and towards individuals’ wellbeing. England’s cultural sector is and should continue to aspire to be world-leading, which is just one reason we’re so delighted that one of the South West’s major locations has now been recognised with this prestigious status. We look forward to seeing how it develops and engages communities in the city and across rural Devon.”

Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West

Thanks to all those involved!

THE UNESCO BID