Nearly a decade after being named a UNESCO City of Literature, Iowa City continues to bring talented writers and events to the city, year after year.
The 9th annual Iowa City Book Festival hosts readings, shows and events all week, which began Sunday and concludes on Oct. 15.
Iowa City is the first in the United States and the third in the world to receive the designation from UNESCO, acknowledging the unprecedented literary history found in the city.
Director of the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature John Kenyon references the Writers’ Workshop, International Writing Program, the Nonfiction Writing Program, and Prairie Lights as a vital support network for aspiring and established writers.
“Iowa City did not need UNESCO to tell us that we were a City of Literature but having that designation allows us to share our story with the rest of the world,” Kenyon said. “This gives local people something to rally around.”