Our work | Audience and market development
Expanding markets for New Zealand writing
International travel assistance to publishers and writers, The New Word website, brining international publishers and agents to New Zealand, and a month-long celebration of New Zealand books are among the Creative New Zealand initiatives aimed at developing the readership for New Zealand literature, both in the domestic market and overseas.
International Writers' Programme
The New Zealand Book Council's International Writers' Programme, run in conjunction with the Audience and Market Development team, supports New Zealand writers to attend high-profile literary festivals, expand the market for New Zealand writers, and foster closer literary relations with other countries.
Under this programme, ten New Zealand writers have been selected to travel overseas in 2007 to take part in literary festivals. They are Tze Ming Mok (Shanghai), Michael Harlow (South America), Charlotte Grimshaw (Sydney), Karlo Mila (Queensland), Jenny Pattrick (Brisbane), David Hill (Europe), Bill Manhire (Manchester), Carl Shuker (Manchester), Anna Smaille (Manchester), and CK Stead (Manchester
Grants for New Zealand publishers
Five New Zealand publishers will make the most of international market development opportunities in 2007 with grants through through Creative New Zealands Audience and Market Development Strategy for Literature.
These grants are for international travel to attend key overseas book fairs, or sell rights and pursue international market contacts. The recipients are:
• Vital Years Ltd to attend the London Book Fair and the Bologna Children's Book Fair
• Awa Press to attend the London Book Fair
• Geko Press to attend the London Book Fair and the Bologna Children's Book Fair
• Huia NZ Ltd to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair
• Auckland University Press to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair.
New Zealand Book Month
New Zealand Book Month, which runs from 2 to 30 September 2007, is a month-long celebration of New Zealand books and New Zealand writers, supported by Creative New Zealand to build the readership for New Zealand books.
Other initiatives
Other initiatives have included:
• export workshops for publishers, in partnership with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
• a feasibility study on a promotional book campaign, undertaken by Booksellers New Zealand, resulting in New Zealand Book Month
• a literary rights catalogue, which features 106 titles across the genres of drama, children's literature, short stories, novels, poetry and non-fiction
• a CD ROM New Zealand Literature - The New Word, profiling 44 New Zealand writers and produced to help build international markets for New Zealand literature.
