Tag: Ali Bowden

Ali Bowden receives the Edinburgh Award 2025

The first Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Ali Bowden was presented with the Edinburgh Award by the Lord Provost Robert Aldridge on Tuesday (4 November).

Since 2007, the Edinburgh Award has celebrated individuals who have made a truly unique contribution to the city and brought the Capital to national and international attention. Nominations are invited annually from Edinburgh citizens and the recipient is selected by the Civic Awards Committee. Previous recipients include bestselling authors, human rights activists and world-famous sportspeople.

Alongside family, friends and invited guests, Ali received an engraved Loving Cup from the Lord Provost, an official award certificate, and a set of her handprints preserved in stone in the City Chambers quadrangle was unveiled.

The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, and Chair of the Edinburgh Award Panel, Robert Aldridge said: It was a pleasure to present Ali Bowden with the Edinburgh Award in honour of her outstanding dedication to promoting and enhancing this city’s rich literary heritage.

“Ali’s handprints are now immortalised in stone at the City Chambers quadrangle, and she deservedly follows in the footsteps of some of the finest individuals associated with our great city.

“Ali has done much to promote Edinburgh to the world, celebrating the positive and inclusive impact literature has on this city. Her dedication and passion for literacy and education in our communities, and for our city as a whole, its people, its legacy and its future is an inspiration to us all.”

Ali Bowden said: “It is such an honour to receive the Edinburgh Award and I’m absolutely delighted.

“I’m thankful to the many, many wonderful and gifted people I’ve worked with across the years, the volunteers and professionals, in big institutions and small community groups, across the city and internationally.

“Together we helped shape what it means to be the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, and I feel lucky to have been part of that story. I’m proud to live in a city that loves its books, stories and learning, and knows that reading and writing can change lives.”

Ali Bowden to receive the Edinburgh Award 2025

The first Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Ali Bowden has been selected to receive the prestigious Edinburgh Award 2025.

The Edinburgh Award was established in 2007 to honour outstanding individuals who have made a positive impact on the city and gained national and international recognition for Edinburgh. Nominations are invited annually from Edinburgh citizens and the recipient is selected by the Civic Awards Committee. Previous recipients include bestselling authors, human rights activists and world-famous sportspeople.

Ali Bowden became Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature in 2006, following a ten-year career in publishing, and was in the role for most of its 20-year history. Edinburgh became the world’s first UNESCO Creative City in 2004 and in the following years Ali helped to welcome new Cities of Literature as they joined, recruiting others from around the world in a bid to diversify the network.

There are now 53 literary cities and more than 350 creative cities in seven artforms.

Ali will be presented with an engraved Loving Cup from the Lord Provost and have her handprints set in stone at the City Chambers later this year.

The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, and Chair of the Civic Award Committee, Robert Aldridge said: “Ali Bowden is a most deserved recipient of the Edinburgh Award, and I’m really pleased that she has accepted the Civic Awards Committee decision to present it to her.

“Edinburgh blazed a trail when it became the first UNESCO Creative City in 2004 and with Ali at the helm for almost 20 years it has continued to flourish in this position.

“Not only has Ali gone above and beyond to create a diverse and engaging range of projects and programmes to enhance the literary city, she has played a key role in connecting Edinburgh with other literary cities around the world.

“I’d like to congratulate Ali on behalf of the city – we will all benefit from her legacy, which builds on the Capital’s rich literary heritage while also bringing reading and literature to new and varied audiences.”

Ali’s work to promote and enhance Edinburgh as a literary city includes community-based writers’ residencies, the first citywide reading campaign, and the award-winning Great Scott! installation in Waverley railway station honouring Sir Walter Scott. She was also behind the Stars & Stories trail of illuminated quotations celebrating 500 years of Edinburgh’s publishing heritage, and an initiative with ETAG to promote literary tourism.

Ali has played a key role in making introductions, bringing opportunities and showcasing the work of writers, readers, booksellers, publishers, programmers and visitors to the benefit of Edinburgh’s literary scene.

After 18 years as Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, Ali stood down from the role in September 2024.

Ali Bowden said: “There’s no doubt that Edinburgh has stolen my heart, and I’ve happily spent the last few decades banging the drum for this impressive, bookish, story-filled and ever-changing city.

“I am humbled, honoured and delighted – in equal measure – to be receiving the Edinburgh Award. I know it’s only possible because of all the kind souls I’ve worked with over the years, on projects big and small, locally and internationally.

“All of them equally inspired by Edinburgh, this amazing, and first, City of Literature. Thank you all for doing a bit of hard work when I asked!

Ali honoured for putting Edinburgh’s literary culture on the world stage

ONE of Scotland’s leading champions of literature and literary tourism was honoured by Edinburgh Napier University yesterday.

Ali Bowden, Director of the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust, was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of her contribution to the promotion of reading, writing and literary heritage.

University of Stirling graduate Ali enjoyed a ten-year career in publishing with Polygon Books and Edinburgh University Press before becoming Director of the Trust in 2006.

She has played a key role in establishing and developing Edinburgh as a UNESCO City of Literature and founding city in a global network of creative cities.

Passionate about promoting Edinburgh as a literary city, Ali has created projects ranging from community-based writers’ residencies and international exchanges to Scotland’s first citywide reading campaign, the award-winning Great Scott! installation in Waverley railway station honouring Sir Walter Scott, and the Stars & Stories trail of illuminated quotations celebrating 500 years of Edinburgh’s publishing heritage.

In 2011, the City of Literature Trust joined forces with Edinburgh Napier to launch the annual Robert Louis Stevenson Day, the first of many collaborative projects with the University.

The hard work continues, with Ali’s current focus being the creation of a Literature House at John Knox House, as part of a wider development of the Literary Quarter on the Royal Mile. Scheduled to open in 2022, the Literature House is an ambitious project that will be a point of transformation for Edinburgh as a UNESCO City of Literature in terms of profile, access and engagement.

Today, she joined hundreds of students at the School of Arts & Creative Industries graduation ceremony in the Usher Hall to receive her Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters.

Ali, 46, said: “I am delighted and truly honoured to receive recognition of this kind. My work over the years has never been easy but has always been interesting, diverse and stimulating.

“Edinburgh is an outstanding UNESCO City of Literature and it’s a joy to play a part in supporting the reading and writing communities here, and connecting our literary city with like-minded cities around the world.”

Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal of Edinburgh Napier University, said: “Edinburgh is a city which is rich in literary heritage, from Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson to the Rebus novels of Ian Rankin, and as the birthplace of JK Rowling’s Boy Wizard, Harry Potter.

“Ali Bowden has spearheaded the drive to make reading part of our lives while promoting the city’s literary connections on the global stage, and it is a pleasure to have her join our celebrations today.”