Norwich City of Literature has introduced a fresh visual identity, marking the start of an ambitious effort to redefine the impact of this global designation on the city’s residents, communities, and businesses.
The unveiling, led by the National Centre for Writing in partnership with Norwich City Council and various local organisations, took place during a dynamic evening of music and film at Dragon Hall, the medieval home of NCW. The historic venue was brought to life with a stunning display of words, images, and colours, created in collaboration with Norwich-based arts collective, Klanghaus.
Peggy Hughes, the newly appointed Chief Executive of NCW, emphasised the opportunity to rethink what it means to be a ‘City of Literature’ in Norwich, both for locals and visitors.
‘This is an exciting moment. My predecessor, Chris Gribble, led the bold, ambitious, and successful bid for Norwich to become England’s first City of Literature in 2012. This achievement laid the groundwork for the establishment of the National Centre for Writing at Dragon Hall,” Hughes shared.
A vision for the future
Now, under Hughes’s leadership, NCW and its partners are striving to redefine what the City of Literature status can bring to the city. ‘The new government is prioritising local growth, reducing regional inequality, and emphasising the importance of our creative and cultural sectors in these efforts,’ Hughes said. ‘The UK’s creative industries contribute £125 billion to the economy, so it’s more important than ever to collaborate with a unified voice and ensure they receive the necessary funding to sustain and thrive.’
Although the City of Literature designation does not come with direct funding, Hughes believes in its potential to unite the community. ‘Norwich’s City of Literature status offers a fantastic opportunity to imagine the kind of future we want to create for our city and to bring people together around that vision.’
A city-wide collaboration
Following a ‘City Conversation’ event in May 2024, a new City of Literature steering group was formed, led by NCW. This coalition includes representatives from Norwich City Council, Norfolk Library Services, the Business Improvement District, VisitNorwich, the University of East Anglia, and the City of Sanctuary Network. Together, they aim to explore how Norwich’s prestigious cultural status can drive positive social, cultural, and economic change.
Hughes acknowledges the challenges faced by the city, such as below-average literacy rates and disparities in creative opportunities. ‘While Norwich is rightly celebrated for its rich literary heritage and as a vibrant hub for writing, publishing, bookshops, and libraries, it is also a city where literacy rates fall below the national average, where creative opportunities are unevenly distributed across communities, and where low social mobility remains a persistent challenge. We’re not naïve enough to believe that being a City of Literature can solve all these issues, but we’re bold enough to believe that we have an important role to play.’
The UK’s creative industries contribute £125 billion to the economy, so it’s more important than ever to collaborate with a unified voice and ensure they receive the necessary funding to sustain and thrive.
Honouring Norwich’s literary legacy
Norwich became England’s first City of Literature in 2012, a recognition of its long-standing literary tradition and dynamic creative community. The city is the birthplace of ground-breaking figures like Julian of Norwich, the first woman to write a book in English, and home to influential figures such as prison reformer Elizabeth Fry and radical thinkers like Thomas Browne and Amelia Opie. It also boasts significant literary milestones, such as being the first city to adopt the Public Library Act of 1850 and the first in the UK to offer an MA in Creative Writing, with Ian McEwan as the inaugural student of the University of East Anglia’s renowned course.
Dragon Hall on King Street, home to NCW, continues to serve as a vibrant ‘Literature House,’ welcoming everyone with a love for words, stories, and ideas — from international writers to local schoolchildren. Here, the spirit of Norwich’s literary tradition lives on, inviting all to share their stories.
Local leaders embrace new identity
Cllr Claire Kidman, Cabinet Member for A Prosperous Norwich, expressed her enthusiasm for the new chapter:
‘We’re very proud that Norwich is one of just 53 UNESCO Cities of Literature across the globe — an incredible accolade that confirms our place as an historic and current creative city of distinction. We’re delighted to work with the National Centre for Writing and our cultural partners across the city to launch this new progression for Norwich City of Literature, bringing exciting opportunities for our local communities to engage with the wonderful world of stories.’
Cllr Margaret Dewsbury, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, added:
‘Developing a love of books, stories, and reading is a key role of all our libraries. This new identity will help strengthen Norwich’s status as a City of Literature, and we look forward to using it in all our libraries, not just in Norwich but across the county.’
Next steps for Norwich City of Literature
The new City of Literature identity will be rolled out across venues and businesses throughout Norwich and the broader county in the coming weeks. The brand campaign aims to empower schools, businesses, and libraries to highlight their roles in promoting writing, reading, and storytelling, reinforcing their ties to the City of Literature designation.
The steering group is currently in a discovery phase, gathering input on how this designation can contribute to positive change. Consultations are underway with booksellers, libraries, publishers, schools, arts organizations, and grassroots community groups like The ShoeBox and New Routes, Old Roots.
NCW plans to deliver its new City of Literature strategy and action plan by next summer, allowing time for extensive consultation and the inclusion of diverse voices. Those interested in sharing their ideas and experiences are invited to reach out to the team at [email protected] with the subject line ‘City of Literature Strategy.’
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