DUBLIN CITY Council is bidding to have the capital designated as a Unesco city of literature.
The council’s bid, which would see Dublin following in the footsteps of Edinburgh, Melbourne and Iowa City as the world’s fourth city of literature, coincides with the Dublin Book Festival, which begins today.
Although no additional funding is offered to cities awarded the accolade, it is seen as providing a major tourism boost.
Edinburgh City Council estimates that getting the prestigious recognition has generated about £2.2 million (€2.47 million) per annum for the city and an additional £2.1 million (€2.36 million) for the rest of Scotland since 2004.
The initiative forms part of Unesco’s Creative Cities Network project, which is designed to promote the artistic development of cities by helping them share ideas on preserving and enhancing their cultural programmes.
The criteria for designation as a city of literature include an “urban environment in which literature, drama and/or poetry play an integral role” and “experience in hosting literary events and festivals aiming at promoting literature”.
“While it is not a foregone conclusion that we will receive the designation, our feeling is that with Dublin’s vast literary wealth, we shouldn’t have too much difficulty in gaining recognition,” said Alastair Smeaton, divisional librarian with Dublin City Libraries, which is leading the bid on behalf of the council.
“To receive the honour would help raise the city’s profile and bring economic benefit both to the city and the rest of the country,” he added.
Details of the bid will be presented to the public at the Dublin Book Festival tomorrow afternoon.
More than 100 authors, poets, children’s writers, social commentators and media personalities will gather in City Hall over the next three days for a series of 44 readings, public interviews, workshops and book launches as part of this year’s festival.
Among those set to take part are Edna O’Brien, Michael D Higgins, Dermot Bolger, Alice Taylor, Medbh McGuckian and Kate Newmann. Entry to festival events is free and unticketed.
The Dublin Book Festival is organised by CLÉ, the Irish Book Publishers’ Association, and is supported by the Arts Council, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, The Irish Times, Foras na Gaeilge, Dublin City Council, Dublin City Libraries and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
The full programme of events is available at www.dublinbookfestival.com
Festival flavour: the highlights
ONE OF the main highlights will be Radio Butty, a literary wireless extravaganza where Butcher Boy author Pat McCabe (right) will be spinning discs and chewing the fat with revellers at the Lord Edward pub tonight and tomorrow evening.
Among the events today are a poetry workshop with Medbh McGuckian, a debate on Dáil Éireann featuring Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and Labour Party TD Michael D Higgins, and author Alice Taylor in conversation with Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
A discussion entitled "Green on a Budget" with Senator Dan Boyle, environmental consultant Feidhlim Harty, and Irish Times journalist Conor Pope will also take place.
Tomorrow's highlights include a discussion on Irish poetry with Pat Boran, Theo Dorgan and Paul Perry, a forum on Dublin as a literary city, and a debate on the future of publishing in Ireland. A debate entitled "A New America?" with RTÉ's former Washington correspondents, Carole Coleman and Mark Little, and journalist and author Niall Stanage will also feature. Irish Times journalists Caroline Madden and Laura Slattery will take part in a discussion on how to survive the recession, along with Paul Overy. On Sunday, a creative writing workshop for children with Kate Newmann will take place, as will a discussion between Edna O'Brien and Éilís Ní Dhuibhne.
