Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature embraces a new chapter in its story as it welcomes a new Chair of the Board of Trustees, and a new Trustee.
Dr. Nick Owen joins Nottingham City of Literature to take over the role of Chair during the ten year anniversary of the designation. Nick is an East Midlands based creative and entrepreneurial leader with over 40 years experience in the arts and cultural sector. In 2012, he was awarded an MBE for services to arts-based businesses and he is currently the CEO of national charity, The Mighty Creatives. Nick has substantial experience of formulating business strategy, leading cultural change and steering charities towards success during uncertain times.
Nick said: I’m honoured to be taking on the baton of the leadership of the City of Literature trustees; and want to see us making a tangible difference to our communities in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and across the globe with our priceless UNESCO connections and support. I’m joining the organisation at an exciting and important time. In 2025 we are celebrating 10 years as a UNESCO City of Literature, and developing our next five-year strategy building on the consultation work ahead of our anniversary. We recently launched our new Nature PoetLaureate scheme for emerging poets under 35 years old, and our Story Valley project goes from strength to strength. We continue to work collaboratively with both university partners in the city and currently are co-supervisors for an AHRC Midlands 4 Cities Collaborative Doctoral Award. This research project will help to shape the future of Nottingham City of Literature.
Nick will be joined by new trustee Clare Harvey; Clare is an acclaimed novelist and academic researcher. She has a background in freelance journalism, charity PR and teaching English. Clare has been working closely with Inspire Culture as part of their I am A Reader and I am A Writer projects.
Clare said: “I am thrilled to be part of the Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature team. The charity was founded arouund the same time as I published my debut, and they were brilliant at supporting me as an emerging author, so I am delighted to be in a position to pay it forward, and be part of an organisation that does such wonderful work in both celebrating Nottingham’s rich literary heritage and creating the conditions for an equally precious literary future.”
As Nick and Clare join the organisation and a new chapter begins, the previous one finishes. Nottingham City of Literature waves goodbye to out-going Chair, Patrick Limb KC and Vice-Chair Barbara Cathcart.
Patrick finished his term on the Board by saying:
“Being Chair of NUCoL for the last four years has been variously challenging, enthusing and always interesting. We have navigated post-Covid bumps, seen the Youth Board grow in strength, and secured NPO status with Arts Council England to whom we are most grateful – as well as to Nottingham’s two fine universities for their steadfast support.
I am delighted that Nick Owen becomes our third Chair at the start of what is NUCOL’s 10th anniversary year. My heartfelt thanks go to our hard-working Board, to the Vice-Chairs who served during my tenure (Jenny Swann, Barbara Cathcart, and Emily York) and, most particularly, to our excellent team, which has flourished under Hannah’s leadership. The mission remains the foundational one of building a better world with words. I was reminded of that potential, indeed that truth, when reading ‘There are Rivers in the Sky’ by Elif Shafak (one of our illustrious UNESCO annual lecturers), where she wrote: “Books, like paper lanterns, provide us with a light amidst the fog”. Read on and go well!”
Nottingham City of Literature have a programme of events to celebrate their ten year anniversary, and you can find out more information about how you can get involved and their mission to build a better future with words at Nottinghamcityofliterature.com
Please direct all enquiries to Michelle Leonforte (michelle@nottmcityoflit.org /07777 178 527).
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