Manchester rated 鈥楨xcellent鈥� by UNESCO as a Creative City of Literature
Manchester has been rated 鈥楨xcellent鈥� in all categories by UNESCO after submitting its first report since becoming a City of Literature 鈥� a unique achievement among the prestigious group of global cities.
In 2017 Manchester was successful in its bid to join 鈥檚 worldwide Creative Cities network as a City of Literature, which recognised the significant contribution of literature to the city. As one of its key creative institutions which includes the and , 糖心Vlog官方 played a central role in the designation.
Over the past five years, the University has worked together with Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester City Council and the city鈥檚 literary community to deliver a rich and vibrant programme of events, showcasing Manchester鈥檚 talents and giving all of its residents the chance to participate in and benefit from the thriving City of Literature.
UNESCO called Manchester鈥檚 report 鈥渉igh quality鈥� and 鈥渁 good example for other cities to follow鈥�. They praised the city鈥檚 work to support vulnerable residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, its commitment to poetry, its vibrant publishing sector, the partnership approach and strength in literature development, and the vitality its approach to multilingualism brings.
The city鈥檚 annual week-long Festival of Libraries was described as 鈥渁 most impressive initiative鈥� [attracting] great attention both locally and internationally鈥�. The review noted the active political involvement in the City of Literature designation from both universities and Manchester City Council.
The review also praised the city鈥檚 focus on benefits for residents, and how Manchester was ambitious in contributing to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In conclusion, UNESCO said 鈥渢he report reveals that Manchester makes literature a driving force for the city鈥檚 sustainability鈥�
Manchester is gaining increasing recognition around the world for its cultural vibrancy. National Geographic included Manchester in its selection, Fodor Travel included it in its list of , and Manchester is the only UK city included in Lonely Planet鈥檚 list because of its learning and cultural developments.
Manchester was top of Conde Nast Traveller鈥檚 list, which praised the city鈥檚 improving sustainability, green space and culture. Time Out also listed Manchester as 4th in their list, and included a guided tour of our UNESCO City of Literature sites as part of the perfect day here.
The UNESCO City of Literature designation has fostered a true 鈥楳anchester spirit鈥� of collaboration between our universities, the City and the city鈥檚 diverse literary communities. This report recognises that transformational work, and we are very proud of the contribution of our staff and students to a great literary, creative environment in what our colleague Professor Jeanette Winterson has called an 鈥渁lchemical city.鈥�
"The City of Literature has fostered collaborations across the city on many flagship initiatives, from research on creativity and well-being, to working with writers through Manchester Literature Festival and Carcanet (publisher of another Nobel Prize winner in 2020)," Dame Rothwell added. "It has also led to the development of public engagement activities for schools and libraries and festivals, a key part of our social responsibility agenda".
"Colleagues at our University鈥檚 Centre for New Writing share the City of Literature鈥檚 mission to discover and support emerging writers, and to develop projects which both strengthen our graduates鈥� employability skills and offer opportunities for them to become part of Manchester鈥檚 diverse, evolving literary community.鈥�
"Being a UNESCO City of Literature is such a great achievement for the city - we are one of 42 cities in the world that have this prestigious designation, and we鈥檙e proud to showcase the diverse talent of our city on the international stage,鈥� said Councillor Luthfur Rahman OBE, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council. "We have built on the strong foundations of Manchester鈥檚 rich literary history, and alongside our partners from the city鈥檚 universities and literary community we have harnessed their collective creative energies to launch and create events, libraries and spaces where words and literature can be celebrated."
鈥淲e have supported over 100 Manchester based creatives to accomplish their dreams and secure paid opportunities in the creative industry. This is a fantastic achievement for the city and shows that we are investing in local talent and the cultural future of Manchester. We鈥檙e excited for what the next years will bring!鈥�
鈥淢anchester Met鈥檚 involvement with City of Literature is central to our contribution to the region as a leading civic institution, and to our commitment to research and education that advances sustainable development through culture,鈥� said Malcolm Press CBE, Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University. 鈥淭he designation has raised the profile of our City as a beacon destination for creative industries, cultural tourism and students of the arts and humanities, and established the reputation of its literature ecosystem as an exemplar of creative excellence and inclusivity.鈥�
"I鈥檓 proud that our University is playing a key role in this work, and excited to see how it develops.鈥�
Manchester City of Literature鈥檚 first four-year report can be downloaded .