Manchester City of Literature

What Manchester City of Literature does

Manchester City of Literature is a registered charity (No. 1189456) and company limited by guarantee (No. 12002661) established in 2017 to coordinate Manchester's UNESCO City of Literature designation. Operating from SPACES Deansgate, Manchester, with a 12-person team, the organization serves as the central coordinating body for the city's literary ecosystem rather than a direct service provider. It connects 133 libraries across Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs, two Russell Group universities with writing schools, more than 10 independent publishers, and a network of cultural partners including Chetham's Library, John Rylands Library, and the Portico Library. Programs span the Festival of Libraries, Manchester City Poets, International Mother Language Day, the Manchester Literature Map, and partner literacy initiatives such as Read Manchester.

The organization's core products are not technology-based; it operates a website-driven What's On event listings platform (with filtering by event type, date, and keyword), a newsletter subscription service, and an event-submission tool that allows third-party organizers to feed listings into the network. Distribution occurs through the library network, university campuses, and partner-amplified digital and earned media channels. The technology stack is standard CMS/website infrastructure with Recite Me assistive-technology accessibility integration; no proprietary APIs, SDKs, or AI capabilities are offered.

Revenue derives primarily from public funding and grants, with recurring contributions from Manchester City Council, Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Manchester Metropolitan University, and The University of Manchester. A small transactional revenue stream exists from select ticketed events (e.g., £8 admission for premium author events), but most programming, including the Festival of Libraries and community-facing workshops, is delivered free at the point of use. Customer segments include writers, readers and book enthusiasts, children and young people, educators and librarians, and publishers and literary industry professionals, with the organization positioned as a free public-facing coordinating entity rather than a commercial enterprise.

Name

Manchester City of Literature

Legal name

Manchester City of Literature Limited

Website

https://manchestercityofliterature.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manchester City of Literature is a registered charity established in 2017 that coordinates Manchester's UNESCO City of Literature designation, connecting writers, readers, libraries, universities, and publishers across Greater Manchester through festivals, events, and literacy programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Literary Cultural Programming

NAICS

Other Publishers (51319)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines (MPAJAEAN), Publishing & Submission Prep Workshops (Query Letters, Agents, Journals) (EDAMAMAI)

Keywords

• Literary programming services
• Cultural event coordination
• Literacy development programs
• Creative writing support
• Community literary engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Grants: Manchester City of Literature receives core funding from Manchester City Council and Arts Council England. Additional funding comes from National Lottery Heritage Fund and other public bodies. This constitutes the primary revenue stream supporting operations.
2. University Partnerships: Partnership funding from major universities including The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, which collaborate on literary initiatives, writer development programs, and research projects.
3. Festival and Event Revenue: Revenue generated from festival events including ticket sales for select events, though many community events are offered free to maximize accessibility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Manchester City of Literature coordinates Manchester's UNESCO City of Literature designation by running a curated literary event-listings platform, an annual Festival of Libraries across 133 libraries, targeted literacy and writer-development programs (Read Manchester, International Mother Language Day, Manchester City Poets, Manchester Literature Map), and a touring children's literature festival. It acts as a coordinating body linking writers, libraries, universities, publishers, and readers across Greater Manchester, delivering the majority of its programs free of charge.

Product overview

Manchester City of Literature operates as a UNESCO City of Literature designation holder coordinating literary activities across Manchester. The organization provides a unified platform of programs and services including event listings through the What's On system, annual festivals (Festival of Libraries, Manchester Children's Book Festival, See Myself in Books Festival), creative writing initiatives through partner institutions (Manchester Writing School, Centre for New Writing), literacy programs (Read Manchester having gifted 75,000+ books), public resources (Manchester Poetry Library), writing development (Cultureword), professional networking (Children's Books North Network), and digital resources (Manchester Literature Map). These offerings work together to promote Manchester's literary ecosystem, support writers, and increase reading engagement across the city.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• What's On Event Listings A comprehensive event-listings platform featuring literary events across Manchester, including book clubs, book launches, festivals, readings, short courses, spoken word events, talks, and workshops, with filtering by event type, location, theme, and date.
• Festival of Libraries A county-wide annual celebration of Greater Manchester's libraries featuring digital art commissions, artist residencies, performances, panel talks, walking tours, and community engagement activities spanning 133 libraries in 10 boroughs.
• International Mother Language Day An annual multilingual celebration of language diversity in Manchester featuring storytimes in multiple languages, cultural performances, workshops, and community engagement activities.
• Manchester Literature Map A digital mapping project documenting literary locations, organizations, and resources across Manchester.
• Manchester City Poets A project celebrating and promoting poets associated with Manchester as a UNESCO City of Literature.
• See Myself in Books Festival A touring festival celebrating diverse and inclusive children's literature, appearing in venues across the Greater Manchester region.
• Read Manchester A book donation and gifting initiative that has distributed over 75,000 books to families across Manchester since March 2020 to inspire reading for pleasure, including Christmas Book Giveaways and partnerships with major publishers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of Festival of Libraries attendees enjoyed the events
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• Manchester Metropolitan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA key creative institution of the city hosting Manchester Writing School and Manchester Poetry Library (the first Poetry Library in North West England). The designation has raised the profile of Manchester as a beacon destination for creative industries, cultural tourism, and students of the arts and humanities.
• The University of ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud Manchester institution with international reach. The Centre for New Writing shares the City of Literature's mission to discover and support emerging writers. Collaborations include research on creativity and well-being, working with writers through Manchester Literature Festival and Carcanet, and public engagement activities for schools and libraries.
• Manchester LibrariescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of public libraries across Greater Manchester (133 libraries in 10 boroughs). Manchester Central Library is Britain's busiest public library with over 2 million annual visits. Libraries serve as primary venues for events, workshops, and literacy programs.
• Read ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between National Literacy Trust and Manchester City Council to raise literacy levels and change life stories of children, young people and adults. Since 2016, has worked with schools, communities, and businesses. Hundreds of thousands of books gifted to families.
• CulturewordkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWriting development organization providing opportunities for new and aspiring writers. Delivers creative writing and literature events including open mics, festivals, workshops. National Portfolio Organisation receiving funding from Arts Council England and National Lottery Heritage Fund. Founded by Lemn Sissay in 1986.
• Centre for New WritingkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of The University of Manchester teaching people to write novels, short stories, poems, plays and screenplays. Iconic Professors have included Martin Amis, Colm Toibin, and currently Jeanette Winterson. Helps students develop skills for publication or professional work for stage, television and film.
• Manchester Children's Book FestivalkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaureate Education Project organized by Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University. Aims to engage children with literature and arts through collaboration of city's libraries, museums, galleries and theatres. Culminates in FREE Family Fun Day. Under creative direction of Dame Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.
• Manchester Poetry LibrarykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe North West's first Poetry Library, based at Manchester Metropolitan University. Public poetry library welcoming all with a collection of poetry and year-round program of events.
• John Rylands LibrarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric research library and cultural institution that collaborates on literary events and initiatives including the Festival of Libraries.
• Children's Books NorthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent organization for published children's authors, illustrators and publishing professionals based in the North of England and Scotland. Grown from 60 to over 400 members. Offers mentor scheme for aspiring publishing professionals and hosts networking events.
• UNESCO Cities of Literature NetworkkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerManchester is one of approximately 42 cities worldwide designated as UNESCO City of Literature. This network provides international connections, collaborative opportunities, and shared learning among literary cities globally.
• Working Class Movement LibrarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage library partner participating in Festival of Libraries events and initiatives.
• Young IdentitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerManchester-based poetry and spoken word organization that works with young people. Director Shirley May is Honorary Fellow of Royal Society of Literature.
• Flapjack PresssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent publisher and event organizer that co-presents Word Central open mic poetry and spoken word events with Manchester Libraries.
• Carcanet PresssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor independent publisher based in Manchester, publisher of Nobel Prize winners and significant literary works.
• Comma PresssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent publisher based in Manchester specializing in short fiction and translated works.
• Chetham's LibrarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Manchester's historic libraries, the oldest public library in the English-speaking world, participating in literary events and initiatives.
• The Portico LibrarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent subscription library and cultural institution participating in Festival of Libraries and literary events.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dublin UNESCO City of Literature: Ireland's UNESCO City of Literature with the same coordinating mandate across libraries, festivals, and writer development. Offers direct cross-city network engagement that Manchester actively participates in.
• Spread the Word: London's literature development agency supporting emerging writers, running workshops, residencies, and festivals. Comparable scale and focus on writer development and inclusive literary programming, though London-specific rather than regional.
• Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature: Scotland's UNESCO City of Literature and the original UK City of Literature designation. Operates an identical model of coordinating festivals, writer development, and library programming in Edinburgh — making it the closest structural and mandate-level peer to Manchester.
• Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature: The original UNESCO City of Literature (2008) operating as a non-profit coordinating literary programming around the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Comparable small-team, donor-funded coordination model anchored by university partnerships.
• Norwich UNESCO City of Literature: England's first UNESCO City of Literature. Runs the same coordination model across a regional literary ecosystem, including festivals, library engagement, and international writer exchanges — directly comparable mandate and funding structure.
• Literature Wales: National literature development agency for Wales, coordinating writers, festivals, libraries, and literary translation across the country. Closest comparable national-scale literary coordination body within the UK outside the UNESCO Cities of Literature network.
• Writing East Midlands: Regional literature development organization supporting writers, literary events, and writing development across the East Midlands. Comparable model of regional literary coordination with public funding.
• Melbourne UNESCO City of Literature: Australia's UNESCO City of Literature with an analogous coordinating role across libraries, festivals, and universities. Comparable scale, regional footprint, and UNESCO designation model.

Broad incumbents

• The Reading Agency: UK-wide charity tackling loneliness and disadvantage through reading, partnering with public libraries nationally. Operates at broader UK-wide scale with similar public-funding model and library network focus, but with national rather than city-specific remit.
• Scottish Book Trust: Scotland's national charity dedicated to books, reading, and writing, operating at greater scale with broader national remit. Comparable charitable literary-promotion mission with library, literacy, and writer-development programming across Scotland.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MancLibraries
• Facebookfacebook.com/manchesterlibraries
• Instagraminstagram.com/manclib_archives
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manchester-city-of-literature

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Manchester City of Literature