Recruitment Pack
About Us Nottingham was awarded UNESCO City of Literature status in December 2015 and now takes its place as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, enabling it to play a cultural and creative role on the international stage.
What We Do Our vision as a UNESCO City of Literature is for a city where everyone is reading and writing their way to a better future. We believe in the power of words and literature as a reflection of humanity and a way for everyone to better understand each other and the world we live in.
We use the UNESCO accreditation to enable young people to discover the sheer creative joy and lifechanging power of reading and writing. ------------------------------------We promote Nottingham’s rich literary heritage and explore its legacy today. ------------------------------------We broker opportunities for international collaboration and exchange for the benefit of Nottingham writers and creative communities.
Our Projects We are a young organisation. We have run a number of projects, including: Eastwood Comics
Meet the Team We are a small team supported by freelancers. We are also supported by our Board of Trustees: a group of dedicated professionals, steered by our chair Patrick Limb, who guide our organisation strategically.
Hannah
Director
Young Poet Laureate Paty
Phoebe
Matt
Freedom Reads
General Manager
Creative Engagement Coordinator
Communications Manager
Rainbow Library
Gareth
Eleanor
Katie
Producer
Communications Officer
Associate Researcher
Young City of Literature Ambassadors Letters of Solidarity
Speak Easy Speak Easy is an open mic event run by the Nottingham City of Literature Youth Advisory Board and hosted at Nottingham Playhouse. For Nottingham’s young people, Speak Easy is a place where creative voices are heard: a place to speak and be who you want to be.
Hear more about what is like to be part of our board.
Meet Our Youth Advisory Board We are a collective of young creatives, aged 17-25, advocating for young people around Nottingham. Our work seeks to co-create Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature activities, create opportunities for developing creative practices, and spread a love for words and literature across the city. Our diverse voices and creativity are vital assets to the organisation.
Abigail Chair
Vice-Chair
Emani
Jodie
Nidaa
Connor
Deanna
Joe
Zach
Want to know what it's like to be on our board? Hear from Zach on his time on our Youth Advisory Board and the friends and opportunities he’s made on the way.
The Creative Cities Network In 2004, Edinburgh was the first city to become a UNESCO City of Literature, sparking a global network of creative cities. Now there are 42 Cities of Literature that come together as an international advisory hub for aspiring Cities of Literature. Each city is dedicated to a host of international projects, collaborations, and advocacy for literature. Find out more here.
The Creative Cities Network
We are a global network of 42 cities in 32 countries that specialise in literature The UNESCO designation ‘City of Literature’ recognises excellence and places an obligation on cities to nurture and support their artform. We collaborate internationally by sharing best practice, supporting freedom of speech and running projects which ensure literature reaches as wide and diverse an audience as possible, locally and internationally.
"Reading for pleasure is the single most important thing that will make a child successful in life" -UNESCO
The 42 Cities of Literature are part of a wider UNESCO Creative Cities Network currently made up of 295 UNESCO Creative Cities globally. Members from over 90 countries covering 7 creative fields – Crafts & Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy,
Literature, Music, and Media Arts – have all received UNESCO designations, which recognise past, present and future: a strong cultural heritage, a vibrant and diverse contemporary cultural scene, and aspirations to extend culture to the next generation at home and to other cities in a global partnership. The designations are monitored and reviewed every 4 years by UNESCO. To meet the criteria, each city makes a commitment to develop a shared network strategy, foster the exchange of information, encourage global partnerships, and promote creativity and culture.
The role of our Youth Advisory Board The Youth Advisory Board’s primary role is to share ideas, review and question, and instigate positive change and exciting ideas within Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature. Being a member gives you the opportunity to be involved in wider decision-making of our creative programmes, and to get your ideas heard on how Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature can better appeal to you, your friends and young people in general. This is YOUR opportunity to make sure young people are at the heart of Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature.
Your responsibilities • Attendance at the meetings every two months, with an option to join subcommittees meetings on specialised themes. -------------------------------------------• Support and plan Youth Board events and activities. -------------------------------------------• Be committed and punctual when attending meetings. -------------------------------------------• Keen to develop communication skills, ability to work as a whole group or smaller sub groups. -------------------------------------------• Be excited by creating opportunities, inspiring change and advocating for accessibility, diversity and inclusion. -------------------------------------------• Help create an open, encouraging and safe space in which individual experiences, abilities and ideas are respected and given space to be shared.
As a member of the Youth Advisory Board, you will get: •FREE books! -------------------------------------------• Insight into Nottingham and the UNESCO Cities of Literature Network -------------------------------------------• The chance to decide what creative programmes we run. -------------------------------------------• The chance to meet professional writers and poets. -------------------------------------------•Advice on how to get into creative careers, get published, and network locally. -------------------------------------------• Develop skills in teamwork, leadership, advocacy and board membership which will be hugely valuable in your current and future lives/careers. -------------------------------------------• Gain a network of like-minded peers and learn from professionals from all areas of Nottingham City of Literature.
Tell us about yourself If you are interested in joining our Youth Advisory Board, please get in touch. You can do this as an expression of interest in any format you choose. As part of your expression of interest, we would like to know why you would like to be a join the Nottingham City of Literature Youth Advisory Board. We would like to know: • What you care about; • Why you would like to do and become involved, for Nottingham City of Literature and for you; • What would help you become involved. • Don’t forget to add your name, email and date of birth
How to apply We are keen for you to have a commitment and energy to guide our organisation at this exciting period in our organisational, leadership and artistic development. Please address your expression of interest to Phoebe Stafford phoebe@nottmcityoflit.org Phoebe can also be contacted if you’d like an informal discussion, to find out more about us, and any questions you may have.
Key Dates 25 April 2022: Deadline for expressions of interest. April/May 2022: Zoom or in-person conversations with members of the Youth Advisory Board, for shortlisted candidates. 16 June 2022: Observe a meeting as a shortlisted candidate and if it feels right for you and the company, you’ll be invited to join our Board.
Lead Contact
Partners
Phoebe Stafford
Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature is supported by:
phoebe@nottmcityoflit.org
How to Apply
To find out more about Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature please visit: nottinghamcityofliterature.com @NottmCityofLit NottinghamCityOfLiterature