Seattle is a City of Literature
Elliott Bay Book Company Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash
Seattle’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature recognizes the vitality, range, and vigor of the city’s literary culture. Seattle supports a wide range of writers, a vibrant culture of indie bookselling, a multi-platform publishing industry, an eclectic array of literary organizations, and a healthy culture of reading and engagement in events and festivals. The designation was made in recognition of the following factors, amongst others:
The quality, quantity and diversity of publishing and editorial initiatives;
The quality and quantity of educational programs;
Seattle’s urban environment in which literature is integral;
Seattle’s experience at hosting literary events and festivals, and promoting foreign and domestic work;
Seattle’s libraries, bookstores and cultural centers
About Seattle City of Literature
Founded in 2013 to manage Seattle’s bid to join UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, Seattle City of Literature is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving our city’s literary community by connecting it to the world.
In 2017, Seattle was designated a UNESCO City of Literature in the Creative Cities Network, and at the direction of Mayor Durkan, the Seattle City of Literature nonprofit helps manage the designation. This includes local programming and relationship building with other Cities of Literature and Creative Cities around the world.
In 2019 and 2020, the nonprofit organization Seattle City of Literature participated in a limited-term agreement with the Office of Arts & Culture, The Seattle Public Library, and the Seattle Public Library Foundation. This agreement represented municipal buy-in to the City of Literature efforts and shifted the Creative City designation under the aegis of The Seattle Public Library for a period of two years. During this time, Seattle City of Literature advised on programmatic decision making and raised funds to support program initiatives.
Our Mission
Seattle City of Literature builds relationships and community partnerships to help creative potential meet opportunity. We connect and strengthen the local and global storytelling ecosystem and center stories rooted in traditionally marginalized communities. In our work, we integrate UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to foster an exchange of knowledge, resources, and lived experience.