Hobart has been named a UNESCO City of Literature, joining an international network of cities recognised for their commitment to creativity and cultural development.
Hobart is just the second Australian city to receive the international honour, joining Melbourne and other locations like Edinburgh, Prague, Barcelona, Dublin and Quebec as Cities of Literature.
The designation comes after a strong local campaign to showcase Hobart’s culture and creativity and has been called an honour for the city by Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds.
“This award will strengthen Hobart’s expanding literary sector and encourage investment in the city’s creative industries,” Cr Reynolds said.
“It will build pride and confidence, and give creative people, producers, retailers and educational institutions new opportunities to tap into an international community of peers.”
“Tasmania’s Aboriginal community revived this island’s original culture and stories with palawa kani, a hybrid of lutruwita’s indigenous languages.”
“Literature flourished early in colonial Hobart – Australia’s first novel was published in Hobart in 1818 and Hobart had the nation’s first public library and published the nation’s first ‘free press’ newspaper.”
“This ethos of story-telling and literature has continued here, with a thriving and award-winning culture of writing, reading, theatre and poetry.”
“Hobart is home to a multitude of award-winning and best-selling authors who punch well above their weight in terms of national and international prizes won, including the Vogel Award, Stella Prize, Commonwealth Writers Prize, Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and the Booker Prize.”
The UNESCO designation is seen as a launchpad to improve the state’s literacy rate, with plans to establish a writers’ center in partnership with TasWriters.
