Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature

Iowa City Book Festival: The Iowa City Book Festival is an annual celebration of literature, bringing together readers, and writers in America's first UNESCO Cities of Literature. Held each fall, the festival features a diverse range of events, including author readings, panel discussions, and demonstrations, all set against the backdrop of Iowa City's dynamic literary community. With a focus on both emerging voices and established authors, the festival provides a platform for exploring various genres, ideas, and storytelling traditions. It's a unique opportunity for book lovers to connect, engage in thoughtful conversations, and celebrate the written word in a city known for its literary heritage. It drew more than 3,600 attendees in fall 2023.

Paul Engle Award: The annual Paul Engle Prize from the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature 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. This prize does not recognize one work, nor is it solely limited to reflecting literary achievement. Rather, the award seeks to recognize a writer, like Engle, who makes an impact on his or her community and the world at large through efforts beyond the page. It also seeks to raise awareness about Engle and his works. The prize was awarded to poet Joan Naviyuk Kane in fall 2023.

One Book Two Book: The One Book Two Book festival is a celebration of children's literature and writing. The event showcases the talents of young writers and aims to inspire a lifelong love of reading and storytelling. With a variety of events, including readings by local children, interactive workshops, book fair, and family-friendly activities, the festival highlights the power of young voices. It provides an exciting opportunity for kids to engage with books in fun, imaginative ways, while also encouraging the community to support and nurture the next generation of writers and readers. It drew about 1,000 attendees in winter 2024.

Paul Engle Glory of the Senses High School Essay Contest: To continue Paul Engle's tradition of inspiring writers and celebrating the rich culture of Iowa, the City of Literature organization annually solicits essays from Iowa high school sophomores about an "Iowa experience," drawing on a specific memory to capture the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touches of the day. The author of the essay judged by reviewers to be the best receives one year of free tuition to the University of Iowa. A select number of runners up receive a $500 scholarship from the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature.

Music IC: MusicIC is a unique festival in Iowa City that blends the worlds of classical music and literature, offering audiences an immersive cultural experience. This three-day festival features performances by talented musicians and writers who explore the connections between music and literary works. The programs strive to combine selected musical compositions with literature, creating a rich interplay between the two art forms.

Poetry in Public: Poetry in Public celebrates our community's rich literary tradition and local writing talent by displaying poems by writers of all ages. Selected poems are posted for viewing all over the community and poets are invited to read their works at the Iowa City Book Festival.

Classics Reading Series: An engaging program that brings timeless literary works to life for contemporary audiences in Iowa City and across the globe. Led by scholar Anna Barker, the series features in-depth discussions and public readings of classic literature, offering insights into the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of each text.

In addition to major programs, the organization also engages in work that involves collaboration with other local and international partners, promotion of Iowa City's literary assets, and providing assistance to individuals seeking to connect with our community.