The 2012-2013 Publishing and Translation Grants fron the National Arts Council, Singapore (grant amount up to $20,000)

Deadline: 15 September 2012 (Dec 2012 grant), 15 January 2013 (April 2013 grant)

National Arts Council Singapore's Publishing and Translation Grant supports the publishing of original literary works from Singapore. The grant aims at raising the profile of Singaporean authors and to widen access to their work both locally and overseas

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN TO

• Writers who are Singaporeans or Singapore Permanent Residents and arts organisations who wish to publish original literary works and critical writing on the arts;
• Translators (Singaporeans or Singapore Permanent Residents and Foreign) who wish to translate Singaporean-authored literary works and critical writing on the arts targeted for publication and promotion in Singapore and overseas;
• Publishers (Local and Foreign) who wish to publish and/or translate Singaporean-authored literary works and critical writing on the arts for promotion in Singapore and overseas.

The sum total of Publishing and Translation grants awarded to any individual or organisation will not exceed $20,000 per application, up to a cap of $70,000 per year.

APPLICATION WINDOWS

Applications must reach the National Arts Council before the following closing dates:

• Application Closing Date: 15 Sept 2012 (Outcome Announcement Date: 15 Dec 2012)
• Application Closing Date: 15 Jan 2013 (Outcome Announcement Date: 15 Apr 2013)

Late and / or incomplete applications will not be processed.

WHO MAY APPLY

Applicants must be one of the following:

(a) Writer

• To be eligible for this grant, the writer must:
• Be Singapore citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident.
• Write in any of the four official languages (i.e. English, Chinese, Malay or Tamil).
• Undertake to either self-publish the publication or engage full-service publisher (the publisher must meet the criteria stated below).

(b) Literary Organisation

• To be eligible for this grant, the organisation must:
• Be actively involved in creating / developing / promoting Singaporean-authored literary work (i.e. at least 50% of the content must be Singaporean-authored).
• Be registered in Singapore as a non-profit distributing organisation engaged in arts practice.
• Choose to publish with a full-service publisher and the publisher must meet the criteria stated below, for a print publication.

(c) Translator

• To be eligible for this grant, the translator must:
• Be translating Singaporean-authored literary work (i.e. at least 50% of the content must be Singaporean-authored).
• Be a recognised professional translator or have had a least one literary translation published by a recognised publisher.
• Choose to publish with a full-service publisher and the publisher must meet the criteria stated below.

(d) Publisher

• To be eligible for this grant, the publisher must:
• Be publishing and/or translating a Singaporean-authored literary work (i.e. at least 50% of the content must be Singaporean-authored).
• Have book publishing as its primary, and not peripheral or occasional activity.
• Be committed to a sustained trade book publishing programme consisting of books by a variety of authors.
• Have books commercially available for sale, with effective national and preferably international distribution systems.
• Have a record of fulfilling all its contractual obligations to writers, illustrators, translators and other copyright licensors

ELIGIBLE TITLES ARE THOSE THAT:

• Contain at least 50% Singaporean-authored content for anthologies or literary collections.
• Are published in print (with a full-service publisher).
• Have at least 48 printed pages (or 24 printed pages for Children’s Literature texts).
• Have a print run of at least 350 copies for fiction and 200 for poetry / plays / literary non-fiction.
• Have been written (originally) in any of the four official languages of Singapore (i.e. English, Malay, Chinese or Tamil). However, translated editions of the text can be in any language.
• Acknowledge the support of NAC.

WHO MAY NOT APPLY

• Student groups formed under the auspices of schools and tertiary institutions.
• Projects that have already commenced at the time of application.
• Publications already supported by one Publishing Grant (even if the previously approved grant was submitted by another individual / entity).
• Applicants who have not submitted feedback and / or evaluation reports on the use of any previous grants given by NAC.
• Writers seeking funding to translate their own work.
• Subsequent editions / re-translations of a work into the same language (i.e. if a work has already been translated and published in a particular language, whether in Singapore or overseas) will receive a lower priority.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Eligible applications are assessed on the following criteria:

(a) Literary Merit and Innovation

• High quality & coherent manuscript
• Engaging
• Originality in content

(b) Sound Project Management (i.e. use of resources)

• Sound financial planning
• Effective use of resources
• Reach out to proposed target audiences

(c) Past Achievements / Track Record of the Writer / Organisation / Translator / Publisher

• Reliable and consistent performance
• Commitment to the literary arts scene
• Record of high quality works

(d) Achievement of NAC’s Priorities

• Promoting Singapore-authored work
• Strengthen canon of local content
• Develop new audiences for the literary arts

GRANT QUANTUM

The nature and scope of the project as well as the availability of funds will determine the grant quantum.

The grant amount will be based on a reasonable estimate of the budget and will not exceed 50% of the qualifying costs or a maximum of $20,000 (whichever is lower).

There is no limit to the number of Publishing and Translation Grant applications a writer / organisation / translator / publisher can submit.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

Applications shall be made online via NAC website at http://www.nac.gov.sg. Late and incomplete applications will not be processed.

The following information is required to support the application:

• Four printed copies of the typewritten manuscript/ original publication (for Translation grant applications), properly bound (do NOT write the author’s name on any part of the manuscript).
• A one-page plot and character summary of the work(s).
• One copy of the signed contract between the publisher and the writer / organisation / translator, if applicable.
• Copies of at least two previously published works by Singaporean authors, for publishers applying for the first-time.
• Curriculum vitae of the author(s) / organisation / translator(s).
• Outline of the work’s publicity, marketing and distribution plans.
• Detailed budget proposal with a breakdown of the costs involved.
• (Where applicable) Samples (at least 10 pages) of the translated work (for Translation grant applications) and (at least) samples of illustrations (for Publishing of children’s books/ graphic novels).

Please send the four printed copies of the complete manuscripts.

Download: complete grant application guidelines

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries: annabelle_low@nac.gov.sg or li_sihui@nac.gov.sg

For submissions: National Arts Council, 90 Goodman Road, Goodman Arts Centre, Blk A #01-01, Singapore 439053

Website: http://www.nac.gov.sg