German Literature Abroad

Literature has long been regarded as the ideal way to learn about the thinking and the culture of other peoples. This means that the promotion of German literature worldwide is regarded as a particularly important part of foreign cultural policy in the Federal Republic. Leaving aside leading works by authors such as Günter Grass and Heinrich Böll whose works are very well able to take care of themselves, the Foreign Office - together with the Swiss cultural authorities in the shape of 'Pro Helvetia' and the Austrian authorities - promotes German literature in a whole variety of ways. Translation grants, reading tours abroad by German-speaking authors and book exhibitions in institutions abroad all help to raise the awareness of German literature abroad. Recently a publishers' anthology with new German literature has been compiled specially for the British book trade to help overcome the imbalance in the reception of each other's literature

German Book Offices (Book Information Centres and German Book Offices) in Bucharest, New Delhi, Moscow, New York and Bejing. As facilitators for German culture and working closely with the Goethe-Instituts, they are competent information and service centres for both the domestic and the foreign industry. They support German-language and international publishing companies in brokering rights and setting up business deals and they are available as contact offices for the Frankfurt Book Fair’s exhibitors and visitors.

The translation sponsoring programme of the Goethe Institute (Dept. 223, Funding of Literature and Translations) supports the publication of books by German authors in another language. Applications must be submitted by the foreign publishers to the nearest (local/national) Goethe Institute, or - if there is none in the home country - to the German embassy or consulate. Information and application forms can be downloaded from the internet or are available from Goethe Institutes (German representations) in the different countries. Funding is available for fiction, scientific publications, children’s books and youth literature. A committee decides which works are to be sponsored.

Translators from all over the world come to the Europäisches Übersetzerkollegium ('European Translators College') in Straelen to work on translations publishers have commissioned them with. There they can use the many different dictionaries and other ‘aids’, meet and work together with colleagues and exchange tips and experiences. Apart from the use of a carrel and the library, translators can also find accommodation in one of the twenty-nine apartments at Straelen. The EÜK also gives residencies/grants and offers seminars.

For further information, please contact:

Europäisches Übersetzer-Kollegium (EÜK)

Karin Heinz, Dr. Regina Peeters

P.O. Box 1162, D-47628 Straelen

E-Mail: euk.straelen@euk-straelen.de

phone: +49 2834 1068 or 1069

fax: +49 2834 7544

The Robert Bosch Foundation is especially committed to support relations with Central and Eastern Europe. Jointly with the "Europäisches Übersetzerkollegium Straelen" (EÜK) and the "Literarischen Colloquium Berlin" it offers a special advancement programme on translation: Building Literary Bridges.

Every two years it awards the Karl-Dedecius-Prize to an outstanding Polish and an outstanding German translator. A German-Polish jury under the chairmanship of Karl Dedecius, translators' of polish literatures nestor and merited intermediary between Germany and Poland, suggests the laureate.

Contact:

Dr. Maja Sibylle Pflüger

E-mail: maja.pflueger@bosch-stiftung.de

Tel. 0711/46084-43

The International Forum for Translators of German Literature "www.uebersetzercolloquium.de" is an initiative set up by the Literary Colloquium Berlin (websites in German).

Mostly one-week translators' workshops on translations from the German language in another foreign language as well as vice versa are advertised. Professionals of both directions of translation are equally invited to apply. Besides these several programmes of funding on translations of German literature into foreign languages are presented.

A collection of links contains the most important web addresses (website in German) of European foundations and programmes of funding for professional translators.

Interested professionals might register to the list of translators of the International Forum for Translators of German Literature. The registration to an E-mail forum enables translators interested to enter into an exchange of ideas with their colleagues.

«Translators are the shadow heroes of literature» (Paul Auster): These shadow heroes will be brought into the limelight by Pro Helvetia’s new priority project, «Moving Words. Promotion of translation 2009-2011».

«Moving Words» will help to expand the position of Swiss literature in the international book market, to increase exchange between the language areas, and at the same time make the public more aware of translation as a creative activity for communicating culture.

Every year the Georges-Arthur-Goldschmidt Programme for Literary Translators gives five young German and five young French literary translators the opportunity to get to know publishing companies in both countries and to work on translation projects under the guidance of experienced translators. Together with the Franco-German youth charity Deutsch-Französisches Jugendwerk (DFJW), the Bureau International de l'Édition Française, the Collège International des Traducteurs in Arles (France) and the Literarisches Colloquium Berlin, the Frankfurt Book Fair organises an exchange programme for young French and German literary translators. In addition, they attend several weeks of workshops in Berlin and Arles where they improve on their translation skills under the guidance of experienced translators.

Up to March the 15.th respectively September the 15.th each year publishers can apply for funding granted by the Literary Colloquium, Berlin (LCB) (website in German). The funds are assigned to translations from the belles lettres of Central and Eastern Europe. The LCB funding programme on translation (website in German) especially adresses publishers running book projects that are not yet in print. Funds granted by the LCB thus may cover between 50 up to 90% of all costs related to the translation work. The translation funding programme of the LCB has been existing since 1993 and is aided with funds of the Federal Foreign Office and the Pro Helvetica Foundation. Since 1993 200 publications (website in German) have been sponsored.

In line with its CULTURE-Programme 2007-2013 the European Union fosters literary translation projects. Publishing houses can be awarded grants for translations and publication of works of fiction from one European language into another European language.

For further information on application modalities please consult the CULTURE-Programme Guide: eacea.ec.europa.eu/culture/programme/documents/programme_guide_culture_nov_2009_en.pdf

These reading tours are organised by Goethe Institutes worldwide working together with publishers or partners in the host country. A certain amount of information regarding these programmes may be found on the Goethe Institutes' websites. Specific questions should be directed to the

Goethe-Institut, Zentralverwaltung

Bereich 223 - Literatur und Übersetzungsförderung

Email: haase@goethe.de

Tel.: +49 89 15921 504

Fax: +49 89 15921 237

Literaturportal.de presents lists of the literary events happening in all 16 states, profiles of every major German author, sound bites of major authors reading their texts, and information on the libraries, archives, literary houses, and museums that host author events.
www.literaturportal.de/literaturkalender.php (website only available in German)

This project initiated by the Federal Cultural Foundation, Germany, in cooperation with the Goethe Institute and the Frankfurt Book Fair provides information on an ongoing basis about the most important new publications in the fields of fiction, non-fiction and children’s and young people’s literature through presenting excerpts and specimen translations, as well as in-depth book reviews.
www.litrix.de

The Offices abroad of the Frankfurt Book Fair, with the support of the Federal Foreign Office, organise the participation of German publishers in international book fairs and representative exhibitions of German books abroad. A list of international book fairs is available under the heading "German Book Trade Worldwide" on the Frankfurt Book Fair websites.

Goethe-Institut offers teaching material for use in German schools and colleges abroad as well as for DAAD lecturers: themed literature packages, topic packs, library program, literature for DAAD members.