Bowden awarded honorary degree for Edinburgh literary campaigns

Ali Bowden, director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust, has been handed an honorary degree from Edinburgh Napier University.

The literary tourism boss became an honorary Doctor of Letters on 31st October in recognition of her work promoting reading, writing and literary heritage in the Scottish capital. Bowden is known for implementing her Great Scott! installation in Waverley railway station honouring Sir Walter Scott, and the Stars and Stories campaign which celebrated 500 years of Edinburgh’s publishing heritage.

Bowden said: “I am delighted and truly honoured to receive recognition of this kind. My work over the years has never been easy but has always been interesting, diverse and stimulating. Edinburgh is an outstanding UNESCO City of Literature and it’s a joy to play a part in supporting the reading and writing communities here, and connecting our literary city with like-minded cities around the world.”

Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal of Edinburgh Napier University, said: “Edinburgh is a city which is rich in literary heritage, from Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson to the Rebus novels of Ian Rankin, and as the birthplace of JK Rowling’s Boy Wizard, Harry Potter. Ali Bowden has spearheaded the drive to make reading part of our lives while promoting the city’s literary connections on the global stage, and it is a pleasure to have her join our celebrations today.”

University of Stirling graduate Ali worked for Polygon Books and Edinburgh University Press before becoming director of the Trust in 2006. In 2015, Bowden announced plans to create a “literary quarter” in Edinburgh.