*************** THE CACHE IS NOT AT THE POSTED COORDINATES; THE POSTED COORDINATES ARE THE STARTING POINT. USE PARKING WAYPOINT, IF YOU WANT TO MINIMZE YOUR LOG-TO-CAR DISTANCE. Parking at the city ramps is free for the first hour, and parking at meters is free after 6pm. ****************
This cache is a tribute to Iowa City as the UNESCO City of Literature. City of Literature program is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. The objectives of the Network are to:
- strengthen cooperation with and among cities that have recognized creativity as a strategic factor of sustainable development as regards economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects;
- strengthen international cooperation between cities that have recognized creativity as a strategic factor of their sustainable development;
- stimulate and enhance initiatives led by member cities to make creativity an essential component of urban development, notably through partnerships involving the public and private sectors and civil society;
- strengthen the creation, production, distribution and dissemination of cultural activities, goods and services;
- develop hubs of creativity and innovation and broaden opportunities for creators and professionals in the cultural sector;
- improve access to and participation in cultural life as well as the enjoyment of cultural goods and services, notably for marginalized or vulnerable groups and individuals;
- fully integrate culture and creativity into local development strategies and plans.
Iowa City was designated the City of Literature in 2008 due to its acclaimed writing programs (Iowa Writers’ Program, the Nonfiction Writing Program, the Iowa Playwrights Workshop and the Translation Workshop among others), the International Writing Program, which ensures the presence of international authors (more than 1200 from more than 120 countries to date!), literary presses (home to 11 of them!), and a multitude of literature-centered events taking place throughout the year.
There are currently 28 Cities of Literature worldwide; Seattle recently joined Iowa City as the second City of Literature in the US.
An unfortunate political note
In October 2017 the United States of America decided to withdraw from UNESCO. The impact this move is going to have on Iowa City (and the 11 other US cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network) is hard to predict. However, we’re told that because the city’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature is a direct relationship between the city and UNESCO, there is no expectation that the withdrawal decision will alter that status, in fact, in early April of 2018, Iowa City hosted the annual UNESCO conference for its worldwide network of cities of literature.
More information about Iowa City as the UNESCO city of literature can be found here.
Information about the UNESCO Creative Cities Network is here.
The cache will take you on a tour along the Iowa City Literary Walk. Full distance of the cache route is about 0.5 of a mile, and the whole route is wheelchair-accessible.
This is an intercache. Intercaches are like WhereIGo, but you don’t need an app to complete. You will, however, need a smartphone with a browser. To verify that your device is compatible, click HERE then scroll down to the "Is My Device Supported?" heading and click on the "Test Device" button. Be sure to have your location services turned on, and if prompted for location permission, choose to allow intercaching to see your location. Most Android and iPhone devices will work.
There are 6 stops, and each will require an answer found at or around the stop to proceed. Once you’ve visited all the locations, you’ll see a new location titled “Final”, which is where the container with the log is located.
Start at the posted coordinates.
When you’re ready to begin, follow this link:
https://www.intercaching.com/intercache/play.php?gameId=2760
We left a TB tag for the FTF!
Please bring your own writing implement to sign the log.
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