Lyon
About the Creative City:
As the national cradle of printing and the book industry during the Renaissance, where Rabelais' books were published, Lyon's history is closely interwoven with that of literature. As a Creative City, Lyon pledges to improve access to literature for all, notably through measures to protect the status of artists, and writers in particular. This is evidenced by the creation of municipal spaces dedicated to creativity, such as artist residencies for writing and illustration.
A majority of the region’s literary activity is concentrated in the city: 25% of the region's 286 independent bookshops and 30% of its 130 publishing houses are located in Lyon. The city is home to the country’s 2nd largest municipal library, and 20% of its residents are members of at least one of the 16 municipal libraries. To ensure the vitality of its literary sector, Lyon organizes international gatherings to showcase its creators and its book culture. The Quais du Polar and the Lyon Comic Strip Festivals, which welcomed between 80,000 and 90,000 visitors during their last editions, are outstanding examples of the city’s dedication.
Lyon is committed to promoting access to literature for the most vulnerable groups, and to working to strengthen social cohesion through culture and creativity. The artist residencies, coordinated by the city's libraries in support of authors, help to guarantee the cultural rights of audiences who have traditionally been overlooked where culture is concerned, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including prisoners.
Inclusive, supportive and resilient, the city fully intends to tackle major contemporary issues and climate change by making culture a central pillar of its urban development policies.
Added value:
As a Creative City of Literature, Lyon is dedicated to:
Encouraging synergies between the city's various creative sectors, with a view to promoting artistic practices as much as possible;
Highlighting local cultural diversity by promoting multilingualism and actively supporting the literary translation sector;
Combating illiteracy and striving to make reading and writing accessible to all, especially to the most vulnerable; and
Strengthening international cooperation and the exchange of good practices in the context of urban cultural policies to build more inclusive and sustainable cities.
