Arts Council Malta has recently launched the Translation Grant, a fund which aims to support the translation of creative writing, ranging from books to films, for international distribution.
Formerly known as Spreading Words, the Translation Grant seeks to increase the visibility of Maltese creative writing on international platforms and to help creative writing in the Maltese language to access international markets and audiences.
With a session budget of €25,000 and a maximum grant of €5,000, the grant has been updated to focus more on the internationalisation of literature, in line with Arts Council Malta’s internationalisation strategy for the cultural and creative sectors.
The grant addresses the translation of original creative writing from Maltese to any other language. Literature, theatre scripts and surtitling, TV drama scripts, film scripts, animation scripts and creative documentaries written and/or produced by an audiovisual company and/or Maltese broadcaster and subtitling all fall within the scope of the revamped Translation Grant.
Priority will be given to works in the Maltese language or works which were originally written in the Maltese language although applications in other languages by any Malta-based author will also be considered.
“Through the Translation Grant, not only can Maltese writing be made accessible to international audiences and markets; it also allows Maltese writers to measure themselves up against the international writing stage,” says ACM chair Albert Marshall.
The revamped Translation Grant is being launched in collaboration with the National Book Council, which organises the annual National Book Prize. Arts Council Malta will be giving a translation grant of €5,000 to the winner of the Novel Category of the Book Prize, which will be announced in the first week of December.
"The National Book Council strongly encourages local publishers and authors to take part in this initiative as part of their plans and campaigns to promote and export their literature outside our shores,” said National Book Council chairman Mark Camilleri.
Like other public funds administered by Arts Council Malta, the Translation Grant is competitive and will be evaluated according to established criteria.
Applications are open until 26 October 2015. An information session will be held on 23 September.