Right on the heels of hosting the largest AWP conference to date, the city of Seattle is preparing to launch a bid to become a UNESCO City of Literature.
Spearheaded by writer Ryan Boudinot, the efforts already have the unanimous blessing of the Seattle City Council and Mayor Ed Murray.
The designation would fall under the UNESCO Creative Cities network which is a group of 41 cities worldwide with specialties in film, literature, design, music, gastronomy, media arts and crafts and folk art.
Currently 7 of the 41 cities have been designated as cities of literature – Edinburgh; Melbourne, Australia; Norwich; Dublin; Reykjavik, Iceland; Krakow, Poland; and Iowa City, Iowa.
Boudinot has formed a literary dream team to help the process along that includes City Council member Nick Licata, Washington Center for the Book’s Chris Higashi, Seattle Public Library’s Chance Hunt, Hugo House executive director Tree Swenson, uber-librarian Nancy Pearl and Elliott Bay Book Company’s Rick Simonson.
Here’s what the folks at UNESCO are looking for:
-Quality, quantity and diversity of editorial initiatives and publishing houses;
-Quality and quantity of educational programmes focusing on domestic or foreign literature in primary and secondary schools as well as universities
-Urban environment in which literature, drama and/or poetry play an integral role;
-Experience in hosting literary events and festivals aiming at promoting domestic and foreign literature;
-Libraries, bookstores and public or private cultural centres dedicated to the preservation, promotion and dissemination of domestic and foreign literature;
-Active effort by the publishing sector to translate literary works from diverse national languages and foreign literature;
-Active involvement of media, including new media, in promoting literature and strengthening the market for literary products.
Shouldn’t be a problem.
Boudinot sees this as being not just about the designation but an opportunity for “Seattle to see itself as it truly is, which is a city of international significance in literature.”
There will be a gathering at Town Hall on Wednesday, March 12th with the Mayor, Boudinot and many of the dream team members to discuss the pursuit of this deserved honor.
We will know in November if they let us in.
More:
This Is a Big Deal: Seattle’s Literary UNESCO Bid – City Arts
Will Seattle be UNESCO’s next City of Literature? – Seattle Times
To Become a UNESCO City of Literature, the City of Seattle Has to Take Action Now – The Stranger