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Gothenburg on the map of Literature
IT WAS IN 2019 that the municipal board decided to apply for Gothenburg to become a UNESCO City of Literature. For various reasons, the application was not completed back then but was submitted this summer instead. On November 8, the good news finally arrived that Gothenburg, together with Vilnius and Jakarta, had been accepted as new cities of literature. – This is tremendous, not only for those of us who collaborated on the application, but for everyone who is involved in literature and reading in Gothenburg, whether it is in schools, libraries, associations or in other contexts. Increasing interest in reading is not something a handful of stakeholders can do by themselves, instead it requires commitment from the entire region, Eva Wiberg explains. SHE POINTS OUT that reading
is not just about fiction. – The application includes six areas of collaboration, including that Gothenburg should be the city where we read to our children, which is immensely important. But reading is also about demo-
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GUJOURNAL DECEMBER 2021
Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG
– A very great honour, but also very well deserved. Many creative forces have worked for a long time for this. This was Vice-Chancellor Eva Wiberg’s response to Gothenburg being named a UNESCO City of Literature.
Lena Ulrika Rudeke is the coordinator of the University’s collaboration.
cracy, where the University of Gothenburg has extremely outstanding research, and about free speech, where we can be proud of Ulla Carlsson, the world's first UNESCO Professor of Freedom of Expression. cellor, Fredrika Lagergren Wahlin, explains that the designation of Gothenburg as a city of literature concerns all faculties. – There are a wide range of areas and subjects such as literary studies, languages, teacher education, democracy research, media research, cultural conservation, cultural heritage, language technology, culture and health – a long list that is still not complete. Collaboration is fundamental to the whole idea of a city of literature, both collaboration
– THIS IS NOT A time-limited project but an “eternal” appointment, associated with certain commitments. It’s also a responsibility that encourages us to continue. We must manage what we already have, but also develop further and seriously use the power of literature as leverage in the work with, among other things, democracy, participation and sustainability. That’s what it’s about being a Unesco City of Literature. Eva Lundgren
FACTS Collaboration is fundamental to the whole idea of a city of literature. FREDRIKA LAGERGREN WAHLIN
ADVISOR TO THE Vice-Chan-
Lena Ulrika Rudeke, Operations Manager at Jonsered Manor, is the coordinator of the university's collaboration on the application.
within the city and with other cities of literature internationally. The designation is a confirmation that Gothenburg is outstanding when it comes to investment in literature, Fredrika Lagergren Wahlin points out. – But the designation also comes with a responsibility that encourages us to continue. We must nurture what we already have but also continue to develop, not least in terms of freedom and democracy.
Gothenburg was designated Sweden's first UNESCO City of Literature on November 8. The main stakeholders behind the application were the University of Gothenburg, the City of Gothenburg and the Västra Götaland region. Författarcentrum Väst, Bokmässan and Litteraturhuset were also included in the application. Six areas of collaboration have been identified, where all stakeholders will mobilize their efforts: the city where we read to our children; the city as a collection of poems; literature for better health and well-being; collaboration and freedom of expression; international author meetings and international exchanges for change. There are now 42 UNESCO Cities of Literature worldwide.
