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Edinburgh Reporter

Ali Bowden to receive The Edinburgh Award

The first director of the City of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature will receive the Edinburgh Award 2025. Ali Bowden took on the role in 2006 and has only stepped down in September. After Edinburgh became the first City of Literature in 2004, Ms Bowden then helped to welcome other Cities of Literature as they joined the network. There are now 53 cities of literature and more than 350 creative cities in seven artforms. Ali's work to promote and enhance Edinburgh as a literary city includes community-based writers' residencies, the first citywide reading campaign, and the award-winning Great Scott! installation in Waverley railway station honouring Sir Walter Scott. She was also behind the Stars & Stories trail of illuminated quotations celebrating 500 years of Edinburgh's publishing heritage, and an initiative with ETAG to promote literary tourism. Ali will be presented with an engraved Loving Cup from the Lord Provost and have her handprints set in stone at the City Chambers later this year. The Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, and Chair of the Civic Award Committee, Robert Aldridge said: 'Ali Bowden is a most deserved recipient of the Edinburgh Award, and I'm really pleased that she has accepted the Civic Awards Committee decision to present it to her. 'Edinburgh blazed a trail when it became the first UNESCO Creative City in 2004 and with Ali at the helm for almost 20 years it has continued to flourish in this position. 'Not only has Ali gone above and beyond to create a diverse and engaging range of projects and programmes to enhance the literary city, she has played a key role in connecting Edinburgh with other literary cities around the world. 'I'd like to congratulate Ali on behalf of the city – we will all benefit from her legacy, which builds on the Capital's rich literary heritage while also bringing reading and literature to new and varied audiences.' Ali Bowden said: 'There's no doubt that Edinburgh has stolen my heart, and I've happily spent the last few decades banging the drum for this impressive, bookish, story-filled and ever-changing city. 'I am humbled, honoured and delighted – in equal measure – to be receiving the Edinburgh Award. I know it's only possible because of all the kind souls I've worked with over the years, on projects big and small, locally and internationally. All of them equally inspired by Edinburgh, this amazing, and first, City of Literature. Thank you all for doing a bit of hard work when I asked!' Like this: Like Related