PRODUCTION SUPPORT The Council must also take account of the radical changes which have occurred in the publishing trade over the last ten years. The support for a handful of publishers in Council’s NI which sought to publish work of literary merit (traditionally understood), was always a contentious one, as such subsidy was often perceived as tilting market forces. This was, of course, true; but sustaining the production of books which may have had a limited market was a valid activity of an arts council, given that the alternative was no product of literary merit published in the geographical location from which it originated, which is where its first and perhaps only audience might be expected to be found. However, as the mechanics of publishing have changed radically, it is clear that current practice may not adequately match the needs of the sector. Most authors from NI are currently published by GB-based or RoI-based publishers, and many of those publishers have been able, on a title-by-title basis singly or through engagement with a programme of publishing, title-by-title, through Lottery Project Funding, it is an obvious recommendation for the Council to advocate this method of support and that route for accessing it as the most effective one in this publishing climate; and encouraging publishers from elsewhere to explore its funding schemes when considering an author or a to Northern title ‘of benefit Ireland’. In tandem with this, it is clear that the phenomenon of remain outside ‘self-publishing’ would the priorities enabling individuals to finance the production of their own work, Council’s – frequently from as such, would be a step backwards in printing firms rather than ‘publishers’ identifying quality work. Hence, while funding schemes are open to all with an intent to make application, including any organisation which wishes to publish the creative work of an individual, individuals would not be encouraged to source such funding from programmes aimed at organisations; and production costs for self-published work would not be eligible under support for individual artists. ACTION Designate the eligibility of non-NI and non-Ireland-based publishers for Lottery Project Fund & Small Grants support WINDOWS & DOORS
PRODUCTION SUPPORT The Council must also take account of the radical changes which have occurred in the publishing trade over the last ten years. The Council’s support for a handful of publishers in NI which sought to publish work of literary merit (traditionally understood), was always a contentious one, as such subsidy was often perceived as tilting market forces. This was, of course, true; but sustaining the production of books which may have had a limited market was a valid activity of an arts council, given that the alternative was no product of literary merit published in the geographical location from which it originated, which is where its first and perhaps only audience might be expected to be found. However, as the mechanics of publishing have changed radically, it is clear that current practice may not adequately match the needs of the sector. Most authors from NI are currently published by GB-based or RoI-based publishers, and many of those publishers have been able, on a title-by-title basis singly or through engagement with a programme of publishing, title-by-title, through Lottery Project Funding, it is an obvious recommendation for the Council to advocate this method of support and that route for accessing it as the most effective one in this publishing climate; and encouraging publishers from elsewhere to explore its funding schemes when considering an author or a title ‘of benefit to Northern Ireland’. In tandem with this, it is clear that the phenomenon of ‘self-publishing’ would remain outside the Council’s priorities – enabling individuals to finance the production of their own work, frequently from printing firms rather than ‘publishers’ as such, would be a step backwards in identifying quality work. Hence, while funding schemes are open to all with an intent to make application, including any organisation which wishes to publish the creative work of an individual, individuals would not be encouraged to source such funding from programmes aimed at organisations; and production costs for self-published work would not be eligible under support for individual artists. ACTION Designate the eligibility of non-NI and non-Ireland-based publishers for Lottery Project Fund & Small Grants support WINDOWS & DOORS
Strategic%20Framework%20for%20Literature%202015%20to%202020.docx