translation grants
Goethe Institute – Books First
This is the Goethe-Institut programme aimed at English-language publishers for the translation of German-language literature into English.
English-language publishers can apply for grants supporting the translation into English of important works of German-language literature.
Eligibility requirements:
- Grants are available for
- current German-language literary fiction, poetry, non-fiction books, children’s and young adults’ literature as well as graphic novels;
- non-fiction books dealing with current, socially relevant topics.
- A valid license agreement and a contract with a qualified translator must exist at the time of application.
- The translation must be from the German original, which must already have been published in print.
- Only projects that have not yet gone to press at the time the subsidy agreement is concluded will be considered for funding.
- The English publisher is obligated to mention Goethe-Institut as a sponsor and print the logo of the Goethe-Institut (see contract for exact wording). Should this be neglected, Goethe-Institut reserves the right to not disburse the agreed-upon sum or to demand repayment.
Applications are accepted using an online application form. Applications will be processed on an ongoing basis.
Link to Goethe Institut – Books First
General translation grant programme by the Goethe Institut
The Goethe-Institut Promotion Programme for “translations of German books into a foreign language” offers support to foreign publishers for publishing German literature. This programme enables a non-German speaking readership access to important scientific articles, ambitious works of fiction, books for children and young people, and non-fiction books. The programme serves cultural policy objectives and is an important instrument of foreign cultural and educational policy.
If the grant is approved, the Goethe-Institut reimburses the foreign publisher for a portion of the translation costs, once the foreign language edition has been released. We do not provide funds for the entire cost of translation, nor do we finance printing or editorial costs.
In the more than 35 years since the programme was initiated, we have financially supported the translation of about 6,000 books in 45 languages.
The following subjects are given priority for grants:
- Democracy, rule of law and civil society;
- Current global and regional issues;
- The cultural dimension of European integration process;
- Recent German history;
- Outstanding works of contemporary German literature
We also consider:
- Classical German literature;
- Contemporary drama;
- High-quality children’s and youth literature
Only foreign publishers are eligible to apply.
Andreas Schmohl
Department 33 – Literature and Translation Promotion
Goethe-Institut e. V, Head Office Munich
Dachauerstr. 122
80637 Munich
Tel.: +49 89 15921-852
Fax: +49 89 15921-237
[email protected]
For more information: Goethe-Institut Translation Programme
Litrix.de presents new publications from the German book market which are selected by a jury of critics on a regular basis. Information on these books is provided on our portal in the form of
- book reviews by well-known literary critics,
- sample passages (the original text and in translation),
- details on authors and publishers
in German, English and in the special-focus language, which changes regulary.
Litrix’s goal is to provide an opportunity for interested readers, publishers and translators abroad to gain an immediate impression of the state of contemporary German literature.
What makes Litrix.de unique is its Translation Grant Programme, which focuses on a single language for several years at a time.
2012-2014: Russian
2015-2018: Arab World
2019-2021: Greek
Schlegel-Tieck Prize (German) by The Society of Authors
The Schlegel-Tieck Prize is an annual award of £3,000 for translations into English of full length German works of literary merit and general interest.
First awarded in 1965 and named for two poets of the Romantic period, August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767-1845) and Ludwig Tieck (1773-1853), the prize is generously sponsored by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, London.
The 2022 Schlegel-Tieck Prize is now open for submissions.
- The deadline for submissions is 28 February 2022.
- Entries must be translations from German into English.
- The original must have been first published in the last 100 years.
- Entries must have been published in 2021.
- Full Terms and Conditions are listed at the start of the entry form.
- Presented at a ceremony in 2023.