Latest news with #UNESCOCityofLiterature
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Watch: Joseph O'Connor retraces the roots of his literary imagination
The Irish Writers Centre in collaboration with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, supported by Dublin City Council, has launched the first episode of its new six-part video series Dublin, One City, Many Stories. The debut episode features acclaimed author Joseph O'Connor, Chair of Creative Writing at the University of Limerick, in conversation with Madeleine Keane, reflecting on the places, people and experiences that shaped his writing life - watch above. Filmed at the LexIcon Library and the James Joyce Tower & Museum in Dun Laoghaire, the episode sees O'Connor—novelist, playwright, broadcaster and Irish Writers Centre ambassador—retracing the roots of his literary imagination. He speaks movingly of childhood walks through Dublin's storied streets, of libraries as sanctuaries, and of a deep connection to the voices that echo through Irish literary history. The six-part series celebrates 15 years of Dublin's designation as a UNESCO City of Literature and the Irish Writers Centre's ongoing mission to support writers at all stages of their careers - find out more here.
The Hindu
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Sarah Joseph chosen for Kozhikode Corporation's literary award
Writer Sarah Joseph has been selected for the Kozhikode Corporation's literary award in recognition of her overall contribution to Malayalam literature. The award was instituted by the civic body after Kozhikode was designated a UNESCO City of Literature in 2024. The literary award carries a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, a memento, and a citation, and will be formally presented to Sarah Joseph at an event scheduled to be held here in mid-August. At a press meet held here on Friday (August 1, 2025), Mayor Beena Philip announced awards for writers across various categories. Novelist R. Rajasree was selected for the women's category for her work Aathreyakam. Santhosh Aechikkanam's Misaru won in the children's literature category, while Adarsh E (Aadi) received the young writer award for his poetry collection Pennappan. In the category of translation from Kannada to Malayalam, J. Gopalakrishnan's Tejo-Tungabhadra was selected for the award. The Greatest Malayalam Stories Ever Told by A.J. Thomas won in the category of translation from Malayalam to other languages. Winners in each of the five categories will receive a cash prize of ₹25,000, a memento, and a citation. Only works published between 1 January 2022 and 31 May 2025 were considered. For the Young Writer category, selection was limited to authors from Kozhikode to encourage local talent, Ms. Philip said. A three-member panel selected the winners, with category heads including Prof. S. Sivadas (children's literature), Shahina K. Rafeeq (women), U.K. Kumaran (overall contributions), Dr. Radhika C. Nair (translations into Malayalam), and Prof. Nagesh (translations from Malayalam). Last year, the late writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair was honoured with the Kozhikode Corporation's Diamond Jubilee Award.
Borneo Post
24-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
KK's UNESCO Literature City verdict by October
Ariffin (back row, sixth from left) in a group photo with SELASIH aid recipients. – Information Department photo KOTA KINABALU (July 24): The decision on Kota Kinabalu's designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Literature by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is expected to be announced by October this year. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Ariffin Mohd Arif stated that if approved, Kota Kinabalu would become the 60th UNESCO City of Literature and the second in Southeast Asia after Jakarta's recognition in 2021. 'Our city is currently being evaluated by UNESCO. Barring any obstacles, the decision on Kota Kinabalu's status as a UNESCO City of Literature is expected soon, potentially by October this year. 'To support Kota Kinabalu's bid, we must actively organize literary activities, especially through non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The government has allocated funds for NGOs to conduct seminars, festivals, literary gatherings, and strengthen local book publishing. 'There is a need to increase publications of literary works, whether by government bodies or NGOs,' he said during his speech at the 'Night of Manifestation Towards Kota Kinabalu's Recognition as a UNESCO City of Literature' and the 2025 Language and Literature Assistance Contribution (SELASIH) ceremony here yesterday. As the State Executive Councillor for Education, he explained that SELASIH contributions are a government initiative to support literary, language and writing associations through financial aid from the Sabah state government. 'Last year, the government granted RM156,000 to 15 applicant associations. As of July this year, 20 associations have applied and are listed to receive SELASIH aid, involving an allocation of RM220,000.' He expressed hope that the contributions would invigorate literary activities in Kota Kinabalu and bolster its UNESCO bid. Also present were Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah, Deputy State Secretary for Special Tasks Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Mohd Kassim, Director of the Institute of Language and Literature Jennitah Noordin, and CEO of the Sabah Development Institute Associate Professor Datuk Ts. Dr. Ramzah Dambul.
Edinburgh Reporter
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 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
Scoop
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Robert Lord Writers Cottage Trust Announces Residencies For 2025–26
Twelve writers have been awarded residencies for late 2025 and early 2026 at the historic cottage in Ōtepoti Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature. The Robert Lord Writers Cottage Trust is delighted to announce that residencies for 2025–26 have been awarded to Ella Borrie, Gina Butson, Casey Carsel, Chye-Ling Huang (with Geoff Bonning), Joshua Iosefo, Anna Jackson, Helen Varley Jamieson, Jack McGee, Hazel Phillips, Nick Tipa and Janine Williams. Ella Borrie is a landscape poet who grew up in Cromwell, Central Otago, and is currently living in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. During her residency she will be working on a collection of poetry, exploring issues of grief, old age, parenthood and the briefness of seasons. North Shore-based writer Gina Butson will work on her second novel, an environmental thriller set in Antarctica. Her first book, The Stars are a Million Glittering Worlds, will be published by Allen & Unwin in July 2025. Casey Carsel is an Aotearoa-born Jewish artist and writer. They will progress and revise their short story collection Her Big Responsibilities, an experimental series of texts loosely woven around a girl whose elderly grandfather has left New Zealand to return to his childhood home in Ukraine. Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland writer and director Chye-Ling Huang makes theatre, film and podcasts, and co-founded Proudly Asian Theatre Company in 2013. With scientist and storyteller Geoff Bonning, she will be working on New Antarctica, a political climate play set in Dunedin and involving countries connected by the Southern Ocean. The Auckland Pride Praise the Lord playwright in residence for 2025 is Joshua Iosefo (Mush). The year-long residency, supported by Auckland Pride, Auckland Theatre Company and SameSame But Different, consists of a series of development and writing opportunities for a queer playwright. Joshua will be developing their musical, NUMB, across the year, and will spend two weeks at the Cottage this spring revising and redrafting the work. Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington-based poet and academic Anna Jackson will work on a new collection with the provisional title Tell Me About It, a series of poetry sequences looking at questions of identity, translation, time, gender and the relation between all these things. Munich-based, Dunedin-born digital media artist, writer and theatre maker Helen Varley Jamieson will work on her book Devising with Distance, drawing on her experience in creating cyberformance (live online performance) to provide ideas, inspiration and professional development for those interested in remote artistic collaboration. Jack McGee is a playwright and producer based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. He will be working on a full-length play about a middle-aged woman who gets off a cruise ship and stays in Ōtepoti Dunedin, inserting herself into the life of her estranged childhood best friend. Ruapehu-based author Hazel Phillips will work on Great Hearts, a narrative history of early women climbers and adventurers of Aoraki Mount Cook, bringing together the stories of groundbreaking mountaineering women in a compelling and creative way. The NZYWF 2025 Young Writer in Residence is Ōtepoti-based writer and performer Nick Tipa (Kāi Tahu). Nick's debut solo play Babyface was awarded the UNESCO City of Literature Beyond Words award at the 2025 Dunedin Fringe Festival. He will take up a two-week residency for this year's New Zealand Young Writers Festival. Whangarei-based author Janine Williams was the inaugural recipient of the Lynley Dodd Children's Writers Award in 2024. She will be working on Danger at Kohatu House, the third book in her series of middle-grade fantasy novels The Secret Staircase. Tāmaki Makaurau playwright Nuanzhi Zheng will be developing a multimedia theatre piece, Best Head Girl. A satirical dramedy investigating self-surveillance and voyeurism, it centres around a group of former Head Girls who stumble upon a secret society of Auckland's former Head Girls. Applications will open in August for the University Book Shop (Otago) 2026 Summer Writer in Residence. This six-week residency for an emerging writer runs from early January to mid-February. As well as a stipend, the University Book Shop provides administrative support – and staff discount on books too! Playwright Robert Lord (1945–1992) bought his cottage in Titan St, Dunedin, after taking up the 1987 Burns Fellowship at the University of Otago. Located near the university and the town centre, the worker's cottage has three furnished rooms and a courtyard garden. It has been run as a rent-free residency for writers since 2003.
