The Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization is a nonprofit 501(c)3 that manages the Iowa City area’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature.

For 80 years, Iowa City has been teaching the world to write. The Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa pioneered the teaching of creative writing at the university level. Dozens of creative programs within the university and the city followed. The newest chapter in this tradition is Iowa City’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature.