In 2015 when Nottingham was putting together a bid to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Literature, Seattle were also working on their bid, and we made contact with each other back then. Now, five years on, with both cities having achieved the City of Literature designation, it’s time to catch up and find out what both have been doing and what their plans are.

Sandeep has worked in public libraries and with UK publishers. In 2013 she was seconded as a Clore Fellow to The Space – a BBC/Arts Council England digital arts initiative. Since 2016 she has led Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature, and she is also Chair of the worldwide UNESCO Cities of Literature Network, and a trustee of Spread the Word and the Women’s Prize Trust.

Formerly of Town Hall Seattle and University Book Store, Stesha is currently the Literature & Humanities Program Manager at the Seattle Public Library, and manages Seattle’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. She is on the board of Seattle Arts & Lectures, and has served on the Bumbershoot Task Force and the Washington State Book Awards jury.

This event is pre-recorded, and will be released as a YouTube premiere on our channel (tinyurl.com/FiveLeavesYouTube) at 7pm on Wednesday 8th July. Tune in and join the discussion! Or watch later, at your convenience.

[Stesha Brandon photo by Leah Hall]