Publishing Scotland is launching a new Translation Fund, on behalf of Creative Scotland. Designed to encourage international publishers to translate works by Scottish writers, the fund is being launched today (Tuesday 25 August) at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
The purpose of the fund is to support publishers based outside the United Kingdom to buy rights from Scottish and UK publishers and agents by offering assistance with the cost of translation of Scottish writers. The funding will be received in the form of a grant.
Priority will be given to the translation of contemporary literature, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, writing for children and graphic novels. Assessment criteria will also include the merit of the work to be translated, financial need of the publisher, track record of publisher and translator, and the proposed marketing plan. An expert panel will meet twice a year to assess applications.
The fund will be launched at Publishing Scotland’s annual summer reception on Tuesday 25 August at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and applications will be accepted until 27 November 2015. This is the deadline for round one, there will be another round in 2016.
Publishing Scotland has an international theme running through its business programme this year with an event in the Edinburgh International Book Festival programme - The Translation Gap, on 25 August - and the inaugural Publishing Fellowship programme, bringing influential overseas publishers to experience the thriving Scottish literary scene from 24-29 August. The aim is to encourage the dissemination of Scottish literature internationally.
Aly Barr, Acting Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing at Creative Scotland said “Following the recommendations in the recent Literature Sector Review, we’re delighted that Publishing Scotland will now be delivering this exciting new fund to support Scottish writing and publishing on an international stage. This fund will allow publishers from across the globe to access and translate Scotland’s greatest writing."