Norwegian graphic novels and/or cartoon illustration currently at Books from Norway
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Simultaneous Subsidy Application Deadlines
The Norwegian Literature Abroad program, NORLA, has today announced (December 16) that it’s increasing production grants available for illustrated books from Norway—and this applies both to books for adults and children’s books.- In illustrated fiction, international publishers now can apply for grants of up to 12,000 Norwegian kroner (US$1,212)
- In illustrated nonfiction, international publishers can apply for grants of up to 20,000 Norwegian kroner (US$2,021)
A publisher interested in taking advantage of these subsidies must also apply for a translation subsidy—for the translation of the work itself—so that the illustration subsidy then serves as supplemental to the basic translation-publication grant.
In nonfiction, a publisher can apply for the production grant for books that “contain a large number of illustrations or with exceptionally technical production requirements.”
More notes on the requirements indicate that publishers in Nordic markets outside Norway can apply for such grants, and “the publication must uphold the same production standard as the Norwegian publication.”
In fiction, the fact that these funds are made available for both books for adults and for children’s content means that graphic novels as well as picture books and other formats can be supported by this assistance.
A publisher might do well to start with the translation subsidy and its various criteria, then be sure to make the illustration production subsidy application simultaneously, which is required.
In the case of the translation grants, “The translation subsidy normally covers up to 50 percent of the translation costs, with 100,000 Norwegian kroner (US$10,106) being the maximum amount that can be granted. It’s assumed that the publisher pays the remaining amount of the translator’s fee.”
Because much illustrated literature is produced in serial form, it’s good to note NORLA’s translation-subsidy criterion on that point: “For serial literature, the size of the subsidy is adjusted according to budget constraints and will normally cover up to 25 percent of the total translation cost.”
Be aware that fiction and nonfiction have different deadlines for applications, and an illustration-subsidy application’s deadline matches that of its book.
- In fiction, deadlines for both translation and illustration-production schedules are April 1, August 1, and November 15.
- In nonfiction, deadlines for both translation and illustration-production subsidies are February 1, June 1, and October 1.
The subsidy for translations of books in Sami languages in the Nordic markets is managed by the Sami Artists’ Council.
Picture books currently at Books from Norway
NORLA’s Translator of the Month
Sara Culeddu translates into Italian from Norwegian and Swedish and is an associate professor at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice.
In her work, she has collaborated with Italian publishers to translate works by Knut Hamsun, Hanne Ørstavik, Erika Fatland, Line Baugstø, Monica Kristensen, Erling Kagge and Halldis Moren Vesaas, and more.
In featuring Culeddu as its December translator, NORLA spoke with her and learned that she likes the ability to control her own time and work when it suits you. You’re “therefore able to respect your own needs and inspiration far more than with other types of jobs.”
Translation also is, she says, “a creative job that allows you to balance instinct and craft; between freedom, play and self-expression on the one hand, and eternal refinement and improvement on the other.”
And most important to her, she says, is that, “Translation is the art that most of all forces you to develop empathy. It is super difficult becoming or getting as close as possible to another person (i.e., the author) without learning to listen, understand and feel like the other person. We need more empathetic people – more translators.”
More from Publishing Perspectives on Norway’s market is here, more on NORLA is here, more on illustration in publishing is here, and more on translation and rights is here.