Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature

Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature For 80 years, Iowa City has been teaching the world to write.

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa pioneered the teaching of creative writing at the university level. Dozens of creative programs within the university and the city followed. The newest chapter in this tradition is Iowa City’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. How could a small city in the center of the American heartland have such a wide-ranging impact on creative wri

ting? The answer is that Iowa City, for its size, may be the most literary city on earth. It has a unique set of influential literary institutions, which explore new ways to teach and support writers. At the same time, it has long been, quite simply, a place for writers: a haven, a destination, a proving ground, and a nursery. Together, these synthesizing aspects – the writers and the institutions that have grown from them and for them – have created a history and an identity in which its citizens take enormous pride, prizing a role in celebrating and honoring writers and good writing. The University of Iowa continues to invest substantially in the dozens of writing and literary programs.

Christopher Merrill has been named the 15th recipient of the Paul Engle Prize, presented by the Iowa City UNESCO City of...
08/26/2026

Christopher Merrill has been named the 15th recipient of the Paul Engle Prize, presented by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization.

The prize, established in 2011, honors an individual who, like Paul Engle, represents a pioneering spirit in the world of literature through writing, editing, publishing, or teaching, and whose active participation in the larger issues of the day has contributed to the betterment of the world through the literary arts.

Merrill, who retired at the end of 2025 after 25 years as the director of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, will receive the award at a ceremony at 2 p.m. on Oct. 18, at the Coralville Public Library.

The event, which kicks off the 2026 Iowa City Book Festival, is free and open to the public.

More: www.iowacityofliterature.org/christopher-merrill-named-2026-paul-engle-prize-winner/

We were saddened to learn of the death of David Morice, otherwise known as Dr. Alphabet, one of the most colorful, creat...
08/25/2026

We were saddened to learn of the death of David Morice, otherwise known as Dr. Alphabet, one of the most colorful, creative residents of our City of Literature. We worked with David off and on over the years, hosting him at the Book Festival or speaking with him for historical information about the Actualists or his amazing projects (wrapping buildings in poetry, writing a 10,000 page book in 100 days, and more). One of our favorite projects was an early collaboration with the Krakow City of Literature in Poland. They took poems from other Cities of Literature, translated them, and projected them on a building in their town square. We thought Morice was a perfect representative of Iowa City, so for a few days anyone walking near Krakow's Główny train station was enlightened for a moment with a few deceptively deep yet whimsical thoughts from Dr. Alphabet. He will be missed.

What a great pairing! We have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Firefly Books, and now are thrilled to hear about t...
08/25/2026

What a great pairing! We have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Firefly Books, and now are thrilled to hear about the return of the Iowa Youth Writing Project in the store's North Liberty space. We are eager to hear more details about both!

Independent bookstore Firefly Books is targeting a grand opening in North Liberty in October 2026. Founded by local residents Leigha Garcia-George and Ashley Shewmaker, the store—located at 1085 Liberty Way, Suite 2—will feature fiction and nonfiction for all ages, with a focus on children’s l...

Check out this international writing residency opportunity with Kirjanduslinn Tartu UNESCO City of Literature!
08/12/2026

Check out this international writing residency opportunity with Kirjanduslinn Tartu UNESCO City of Literature!

08/12/2026

One day to go!

‘The Black Angel’s Lament’ is a multi-medium piece by Josie Nabhan-Warren and Max Worth. Produced for the Notts X Iowa MusicIC Collaboration, it celebrates the links between music and literature, drawing inspiration from this year’s MusicIC Festival!

The piece will go live as part of our International Youth Day celebrations, and you can join us for free online August 12 at noon (6pm UK time)!

Hosted by Mia Hagues, Project Coordinator, this is a chance to be one of the first to watch the piece, take part in a Q&A with the artists, and learn more about the work of our cities of literature…

Claim your spot at this event https://nottinghamcityofliterature.com/projects/musicic-collaboration/ We can’t wait to see you there.

We’ve been busy filming for the launch of ‘The Black Angel’s Lament’Filmed at the Department of Music by , Nottingham’...
08/10/2026

We’ve been busy filming for the launch of ‘The Black Angel’s Lament’
Filmed at the Department of Music by , Nottingham’s contribution to the Notts X Iowa MusicIC Collab is something to get excited about!

The piece is a collaboration between Notts-based musician Max Worth, and Iowa-based poet Josie Nabhan-Warren, inspired by this year’s MusicIC festival.

So, join us for our Launch Party, August 12 at noon (6 p.m. UK time)!

Hosted by Mia Hagues, Project Coordinator, this is a chance to be one of the first to watch the piece, take part in a Q&A with the artists, and learn more about the work of our cities of literature.

Claim your spot at this free, online event, and learn more about the project, through the link in our bio or at musicic.org! We can’t wait to see you there.

08/10/2026

‘The Black Angel’s Lament’ is a multi-medium piece by Josie Nabhan-Warren and Max Worth. Produced for the Notts X Iowa MusicIC Collaboration, it celebrates the links between music and literature, drawing inspiration from this year’s MusicIC Festival!

The piece will go live as part of our International Youth Day celebrations, and you can join us for free online on August 12 at noon, (6 p.m. UK time)!

Hosted by Mia Hagues, Project Coordinator, this is a chance to be one of the first to watch the piece, take part in a Q&A with the artists, and learn more about the work of our cities of literature…

Claim your spot at this event https://nottinghamcityofliterature.com/projects/musicic-collaboration/ We can’t wait to see you there.

Check out what's going on this week at PorchLight: Iowa City's Community Literary Salon!
08/06/2026

Check out what's going on this week at PorchLight: Iowa City's Community Literary Salon!

From poets to playwrights, this is an opportunity to get to know Melbourne’s vibrant and varied literary community up cl...
08/06/2026

From poets to playwrights, this is an opportunity to get to know Melbourne’s vibrant and varied literary community up close by spending November working with one of the many organizations that make Melbourne a City of Literature.

Deadline to apply is Midnight Monday 17th of August 2026.

Visit cityofliterature.com.au/virtual-writer-in-residence-2026 or the Residencies link in the bio.

Address

123 S Linn Street
Iowa City, IA
52240

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13198876100

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