Writing is a quiet art. So perhaps it is not surprising that England’s first UNESCO City of Literature is located in a quiet corner of the country. Surrounded by the big skies and water-dominated landscape of East Anglia, Norwich is home to 230,000 people, more than 30 medieval churches and the highest concentration of pubs per square kilometre in the UK.
at the forum
The most obvious sign of the city’s literary tradition is the modern architecture of The Forum. This building looks like a cross between a modern art gallery and an airport terminal and houses Britain’s biggest and busiest city library. Almost 1.5 million people visit here each year. Within walking distance are at least half a dozen bookshops, numerous independent publishers, and the church where the first book in English by a woman was written.
The writers’ centre
“Norwich is a place where people admire literature,” says Chris Gribble, Chief Executive of the city’s Writers’ Centre. He adds: “It’s also a place where they understood its cultural value. This amazing background of writing, writers and readers has helped to create positive social change and to create an extraordinary story for the city.”
Gribble and his team led the successful bid to become a UNESCO City of Literature. They were supported by the University of East Anglia (UEA), which lies to the west of the city. The university also houses the British Centre for Literary Translation and every six months hosts its international literary festivals.
number six
Recognition as a City of Literature comes as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. The scheme identifies cities across the world which not only have a unique heritage but also actively promote their chosen art form. Norwich is the sixth city to gain the title after Edinburgh, Melbourne, Iowa City, Dublin and Reykjavik. It is a permanent award, but Norwich is not likely to rest on its laurels. The international reputation that comes with the City of Literature award is likely to bring additional business and tourism, says Gribble. But perhaps the cultural benefits are more important: “When someone reads a piece of writing that revolutionises or changes their life, the impact is forever. What writers can do is life-changing.”
Intervista con un esperto: The Uses of Literacy: Norwich