Can you spot a little touch of Ōtepoti in this stack of books from all over the globe?

By Ōtepoti He Puna Auaha | Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature | Posted: Wednesday Jun 24, 2026

Thanks to the generosity of our colleagues at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, four significant publications are now part of a growing international collection forming the foundation of a new art library in Lviv UNESCO City of Literature, Ukraine — Mystetska Biblioteka.

Initiated by Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature, the Art Books for Lviv: A Gift from Cities of Literature project invited Cities of Literature Offices from around the world to donate books to help establish this dedicated art library. The new library will serve as a space for collecting, sharing, and celebrating art publications, and bringing together books, exhibitions, learning, and community in one place.

Mystetska Biblioteka has now received more than 100 books from around the world. Each book carries a connection to its city of origin; together they form a collective statement of support and belief in the importance of cultural exchange. The donation carries particular meaning at this time as an act of both preservation and hope.

Cam McCracken and the Dunedin Public Art Gallery generously gifted these titles, reflecting Ōtepoti’s unique place in Aotearoa’s cultural landscape as home to the country’s first public art gallery. These books now sit alongside contributions from Cities of Literature across the globe, providing access to visual art, design, and architectural resources for artists, researchers, students, and the wider public.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. It is wonderful to know that our package containing these taoka has reached its destination and the books are now part of Lviv's new art library — a lasting resource for learning, creativity, and cultural exchange, and a testament to the enduring power of art, literature, and international friendship.

The donated publications are:

• Beloved: Works from the Dunedin Public Art Gallery edited by Robyn Notman and Lynda Cullen (Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 2009) — a major publication released to mark the Gallery’s 125th anniversary, offering a sweeping introduction to the Gallery’s historic and contemporary collections, with contributions from leading national and international experts

• Frances Hodgkins: Femme du Monde by Alexa Johnston (Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 2009)— a celebration of the life and work of one of Aotearoa’s most beloved artists, bringing together her works from 1890 to 1945, with insights from author Alexa Johnston

• Gordon Walters: New Vision edited by Lucy Hammonds, Laurence Simmons, and Julia Waite (Dunedin Public Art Gallery in partnership with Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2017)— a comprehensive exploration of one of Aotearoa’s most influential modern artists, known for his iconic koru paintings and diverse, refined body of work spanning five decades

• Robin White: Something is Happening Here edited by Sarah Farrar, Jill Trevelyan, and Nina Tonga (Te Papa Press and Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2022) — captures the life and work of a much-loved Aotearoa artist, whose bold practice engages deeply with the world and its complexities, featuring works from across her five-decade career, including artworks created during her time on the Otago Peninsula.

These contributions are helping to build an important cultural resource in Lviv while supporting the rebuilding of cultural infrastructure in Ukraine. The project demonstrates how international partnerships can foster connection, resilience, and understanding.