Aberystwyth Ceredigion joins over 50 Cities recognised by UNESCO for their contribution to literature, including Barcelona, Dublin, Seattle and Rio de Janeiro. The City of Literature designation also makes Aberystwyth Ceredigion the first UNESCO Creative City in Wales.
With literary culture at its heart, Aberystwyth Ceredigion has a vibrant infrastructure of festivals, bookshops, theatres, cultural events, lectures, centres of academic excellence and research, publishing, poetry and writing that connects all parts of the county. The new City of Literature was created after a compelling application by the Dinas Llên strategic partnership. The UNESCO designation brings together Aberystwyth and the wider county of Ceredigion to celebrate the centuries-old literary traditions of the area and its thriving bilingual cultural scene.
Professor Mererid Hopwood, Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University and member of Dinas Llên partnershipIt’s an opportunity to reinforce the vibrant literary heritage that we enjoy right here as we share it with the world. We now look forward to taking on the responsibility that comes with this significant privilege.”
Aberystwyth Ceredigion might not constitute a city in the traditional sense, but the area’s rich literary scene, universities and national literary institutions means that it qualifies for a UNESCO Creative City designation. Literature and creativity in many forms, and in both Welsh and English, are an integral part of everyday life here, for people of all ages and backgrounds. Literature adorns the walk along Aberystwyth Promenade, the Quay at Cardigan and the woodland trail in Llandre.
Aberystwyth alone can claim a connection to over 300 poets and is the first Welsh town to employ a Town Poet. The county of Ceredigion is home to a high concentration of publishers, as well as to Welsh literary institutions of national and international importance including the National Library of Wales and the Books Council of Wales. The University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David is an international centre of excellence for Celtic Studies, and Aberystwyth University is world-renowned for its excellence in teaching and research in languages and literature, including Welsh, English and Creative Writing. Through Wales Literature Exchange and Literature Across Frontiers it connects Wales to the world and shares literature from Wales with new audiences through translation.
Aberystwyth Ceredigion joins other Creative Cities around the world in recognising that creativity is a catalyst for sustainable development, focused on people, place and local communities.
