UNESCO City of Literature

In December 2015, Lviv was included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, winning the title “UNESCO City of Literature”. The new status of the city means for it access to the world literary space, the development of literary tourism and the possibility of various creative cooperation in the international field. This is not just a large number of events, which are still not lacking — but the systematic development of international literary life on the basis of Lviv. The Office of the City of Literature from 2016 is located in the Palace of Gnat Hotkevich.

The main areas of support from UNESCO are urban projects aimed at the development of reading, literary creativity and publishing. They are implemented at the expense of the city budget and investors, sponsors, donations and grants, as well as international financial initiatives. In addition, the awarding of the UNESCO All-Ukrainian Prize of the City of Literature for authors and translators of Ukrainian-language books was launched in Lviv. According to the City of Literature program, various activities have already been carried out to support book publishing and translations in Lviv, opening of literary initiatives aimed at forcibly displaced persons and ATO participants in Eastern Ukraine, and projects for readers of respectable age, children and adolescents have been implemented.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network was established in 2004; all its participants cooperate on projects in the field of cultural development, exchange of experience in organizing events and developing urban economic development plans in close partnership with local and international formats of events and activities in the sphere of development of society and cultural life of the participating cities.

Source: UNESCO City of Literature