Exeter recognised as a City of Literature at major international festival

Exeter, one of the UK’s UNESCO Cities of Literature, has represented Devon’s creative culture at the Taif Writers and Readers Festival in Saudi Arabia.

Exeter became a UNESCO City of Literature in 2019, a designation that recognises both the city’s literary heritage and its ongoing support for writers, readers and storytelling.

Representatives from Exeter UNESCO City of Literature, including Executive Director Anna Cohn Orchard, attended the Taif Writers and Readers Festival, funded by the festival organisers. During the visit, delegates met the Mayor of Taif, took part in workshops with local authors, and were interviewed for a local podcast.

The visit highlighted the city’s role within the global UNESCO Cities of Literature network.

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Representatives from Exeter joined delegates from Cities of Literature across Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East at the festival, with the trip funded by the organisers

Anna Cohn Orchard, Executive Director of Exeter UNESCO City of Literature, attended the festival and met with civic leaders and writers from around the world. 

During the visit, she presented Taif’s mayor, Dr Abdullah Alahmadi, with gifts and a personal letter from Exeter’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Anne Jobson.

In her letter, Cllr Jobson drew parallels between the two cities, writing: “Like Taif, Exeter is also a city full of historical heritage and shares with you the aim of being a pioneering city that blends the heritage and culture with modernity.”

She also praised the festival’s international outlook, adding: “Your city’s literary festival and its commitment to celebrating creativity, language, and cultural exchange are most impressive, and I am delighted that representatives from across the UNESCO Cities of Literature network are able to come together in Taif.”

Delegates at the festival included representatives from Heidelberg, Jakarta, Kozhikode, Melbourne, Okayama and Slemani, reflecting the global reach of the UNESCO Cities of Literature network.

While in Taif, Exeter’s representative took part in author events, workshops with Saudi writers Rola Badkook and Afnan Tash, and interviews with local media. 

Meetings were also held with Taif city officials to discuss how literature and culture are supported within city development plans.

The status connects Exeter to a global network of 63 Cities of Literature across 44 countries, opening up opportunities for international collaboration and cultural exchange.

Exeter City of Literature has previously been involved in international projects that have seen Devon writers take part in residencies overseas, while authors from cities including Jakarta, Barcelona, Baghdad and Lviv have visited Exeter.

Reflecting on the visit, Anna Cohn Orchard said the festival had helped strengthen Exeter’s international relationships. She said:“This visit to Taif was an incredibly positive experience; the warmth and hospitality shown by the Ministry of Culture team and everyone we met was remarkable.”

She added that the trip had opened the door to future collaboration: “We’ve established a closer relationship with our first City of Literature in the Middle East, which we hope will lead to meaningful exchanges.”

“Our hope is that very soon we’ll be able to welcome Taif writers to Exeter, allowing our communities to share stories and learn from each other’s rich literary traditions.”

Organisers say international visits such as this help raise Exeter’s profile while bringing long-term benefits back to the city through cultural partnerships, literary events and opportunities for local writers.