Our work | Audience and market development
Market development support for publishers and agents
New Zealand publishers and agents wishing to attend key international book fairs in 2008 or pursue international market contacts are invited to apply to Creative New Zealand by 30 November for grants of up to $3000 towards the cost of travel.
Offered through Creative New Zealand's Audience and Market Development team, up to five grants will be available to New Zealand publishers or agents marketing titles by New Zealand writers of fiction, literary non-fiction, poetry and children's fiction.
Sarah Wilson, International Adviser, Creative New Zealand, says that this is the fourth year the grants have been offered as part of the organisation's International Market Development for Literature.
"This support helps New Zealand publishers establish new networks and build on existing international contacts," she says. "Face-to-face interaction with the overseas literary community is a vital part of the export chain for New Zealand writers.
"Given the outstanding success of Lloyd Jones this year, the climate has never been more positive for promoting New Zealand literature to an international audience."
Lloyd Jones' novel, Mister Pip, won the 2007 Commonwealth Writers' Prize and was also shortlisted for the 2007 Man Booker Prize. The publicity surrounding these achievements has resulted in rocketing sales of Mister Pip, at the same time promoting New Zealand literature in the international market place.
This year, four publishers (Awa Press, Geko Press, Huia NZ Ltd and Auckland University Press) and one agent (Vital Years Ltd) attended book fairs in London, Bologna and Frankfurt with the support of a $3000 travel grant from Creative New Zealand.
A team of Creative New Zealand staff and independent industry representatives will assess applications against the artistic and professional quality of the works proposed, along with the project's ability to:
• complement the applicant's other international market development and promotional strategies and activities
• establish or consolidate overseas markets for the authors and titles to be promoted
• build international market development skills and experience for the recipient publisher, agent or employee.
Proposals will be assessed and decisions advised by Friday 21 December 2007.
