About English PEN’s grants for South Asian literature in translation

English PEN has partnered with the South Asian Literature in Translation project (SALT) to deliver grants in support of South Asian literature in translation into English. The partnership involves three grants:

• PEN Translates x SALT – a dedicated strand of English PEN’s grant for publishers, supporting the translation costs of new full-length translations into English. (Open for submissions biannually.)
• PEN Presents x SALT – a dedicated strand of English PEN’s samples grant, supporting the creation of new sample translations into English. (Open for submissions annually.)
• Promotional grants for South Asian literature in translation – a discrete grant for publishers, festivals, bookshops and other event programmers, administrated for the SALT project by English PEN. (Open for submissions biannually.)

About the promotional grants

The promotional grants support the public-facing promotion of new translations into English, for activity taking place anywhere outside South Asia, any for activity promoting work originally published in any official or unofficial language of South Asia, whose authors are citizens of a South Asian country, resident in South Asia, or of South Asian heritage.

There is no maximum amount for which an applicant can apply. However, there is a limited total funding pot available, and applications for lower grant amounts will therefore be more likely to be fundable. The programme aims to fund well-considered, cost-effective and strategically designed sets of activity; higher-cost initiatives should therefore demonstrate significant reach, impact and efficiency in return for financial outlay (for example, through multi-event projects and partnerships).

The grant supports physical activity – such as tours, individual events and book launches, and festival programming – and online activity such as virtual events and podcasts. Publishers, festivals, bookshops, venues, libraries, universities and other event organisers and programmers anywhere outside South Asia are eligible to apply.

The grant is open for submissions every April/May and October/November, for activity taking place no earlier than 3 months after the application window closes, beginning no later than 12 months after the application window closing, and taking place over a maximum of 3 months.

Full details of eligibility criteria and the assessment process are available on the application form which can be downloaded below.

To apply, please complete the application form and submit it through the portal at the link below.