Ministry of Culture Translation and Publication Grants Create Overseas Licensing Opportunities for Taiwan Writers

The Ministry of Culture has issued the "Ministry of Culture Translation and Publication Grant Guidelines." The "Taiwan Literature Translation and Publication Grant Program," originally administered by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, has been transferred to the Ministry of Culture and its range of genres expanded. To encourage the translation and publication of Taiwan's original works, showcase the diverse character of Taiwanese works, and help Taiwanese writers and publishers go international, the Ministry of Culture has since last year carried out strategic planning for overseas copyright export, from the preparation of upstream materials and talent to downstream promotion and marketing, advancing the international marketing of Taiwanese copyrights.

To integrate guidance mechanisms and avoid dispersing resources, the "Taiwan Literature Translation and Publication Grant Program" formerly administered by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature has been consolidated: what was originally a grant limited to literary works now also includes other genres, and it is combined with the "Books From Taiwan" website established by the Ministry of Culture for promotion and marketing, linking all stages of the copyright international marketing guidance mechanism to help our publishing industry expand into non-Chinese-language markets.

The Ministry of Culture stated that this program provides grants for licensing fees and translation fees to foreign publishers or foreign translators. The works to be translated must be original works in Traditional Chinese by Taiwanese writers for which translation rights have already been obtained, including fiction, nonfiction, and illustrated works, with priority given to those being published outside Chinese-language regions for the first time. The maximum amount per work is 500,000 yuan.

Applications for this translation and publication grant will be accepted from September 1 to September 30. To facilitate applications by foreign publishers and translators, all applications must be submitted online. Information about applying can be found on the Ministry of Culture website or the Books From Taiwan website.