From the office of Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature

One of the best parts is working with our wonderful writers, and alongside Dunedin Public Libraries and other DCC departments, local institutions and community groups. Collaboration was celebrated during our Creative Cities Southern Hui in December, and is something Dunedinites have always done well. As Melbourne City of Literature’s Director David Ryding commented after the Hui, ‘There is no City of Literature as engaged as Dunedin.’

It’s exciting to be part, in a small way, of the Regent 24 Hour Book Sale’s new Books As Art competition, which closes on 31 May. The iconic Book Sale is inviting artists, crafters, school students and community groups to give a second life to damaged books by transforming them into sculptures and artworks. The judging panel will be headed by Dunedin Public Art Gallery Director Cam McCracken, and the book art will be displayed during the Regent 24 Hour Book Sale this year (starting at midday on Friday 8 June). It is hoped that the competition will encourage creative people of all ages to celebrate and reconnect with books and the pleasure of reading.

One to look out for is the exquisite dress adorning the cover of this issue of NB, created by Dunedin Public Libraries’ Jill Bowie, originally for the City Library’s recent exhibition Muse, a part of the Creative Cities Southern Hui. The life-sized dress is fashioned from recycled pages and bookbinding offcuts and has literally emerged from the chapters of a novel!