Press Releases

1. Purpose

The “Grant-Aid scheme for the translation of works of Cypriot literary writers from Greek into foreign languages” (henceforth “The Scheme”) constitutes a measure implemented by the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture. It aims at providing incentives for the promotion and dissemination of Cypriot literature (from the 19th century onwards) abroad, enhancing the circulation of Cypriot literature and supporting the mobility of Cypriot writers internationally. 

In the context of the implementation of this measure, applications are examined for subsidising the translation of literary works by Cypriot authors into any foreign language, which have already been published in the original language (Greek), as well as of literary works that have been written in Turkish (original language) and have already been translated and published in Greek. 

2. Eligible applicants

For this Scheme, applications can be submitted from:

1. Publishers based abroad, or

2. Cypriot publishers, who for the purpose of promoting, disseminating, and marketing the publication in the foreign book market, sign a contract with other associated bodies (publishing houses or book distributors) based in the country in which the publication is destined to be sold. 

It is provided that applicants should be publishing companies, established as private law legal entities. 

3. Translators who have contract with a publishing house. 

Applications regarding translations of literary works for which the applicants have applied for funding or have secured funding from any other relevant national or European Grant-aid Schemes shall not be accepted. 

3. Period of implementation

The Scheme shall apply (in the present form or any other revised and differentiated form) for the period January-December 2025. 

4. Eligible costs and ceiling

The Scheme shall only cover translation expenses with a ceiling of €25 per page of the work to be translated and an overall ceiling of €7,500 per translation project. 

For the purpose of the implementation of the Scheme, a page shall be deemed to be equal to 250 words (for prose) and 150 words (for poetry), respectively. 

5. Method and tools for the assessment of Grant-Aid

The total amount of the grant to be paid shall be calculated on the basis of readable and editable digital copies provided by the applicant. (see section 6.9 below) 

6. Submission of applications, attached documents

Applications for funding on the basis of the provisions of this Grant-scheme can be submitted by the interested parties via the special Application Form and must be accompanied by the following documentation: 

1. Copy of the registration certificate (along with its official, certified translation in either Greek or English) of the publishing business (applicant), issued by the office of the Registrar of Companies of the country where the applicant is established and operating.

2. List of publications published by the applicant during the last three (3) years, with all relevant publication references (author, title, place and year of publication, number of copies, ISBN).

3. List of literary translations published by the applicant (with all relevant publication references – author, translator, title, place and year of publication, number of copies, ISBN), involving translations of literary works from foreign languages into the language of the country where the applicant is operating.

4. Document describing the applicant’s organisational and business structure (organigram, market share in the local book market, targets with regard to further development and expansion of the programme of literary translations into foreign languages).

5. Detailed plan of actions and measures that will be taken in order to effectively promote, disseminate, and market the publication to be translated in the local book market.

6. Translator’s curriculum vitae, accompanied by a list of his/her previously published literary translations from Greek into the foreign languages, with all the relevant publication references (author, title, place and year of publication, number of copies, ISBN, and cover photos). Additionally, any further information that can contribute to the assessment of his/her professional profile (e.g. articles and any other contributions/translations in literary and scientific journals).

7. A copy (along with its translation into either Greek or English) of the original contract signed between the applicant (publisher) and the translator, which is essential to include the total amount of the fee to be paid by the former to the latter.

8. If the application is submitted by a publishing house based in a country where the target language is not spoken as an official language: The application form must be accompanied by a copy of the contract signed between the applicant and the associated body (publisher or book distributor based in a country or countries where the target language is spoken as an official language), providing for the promotion, dissemination, and marketing of the publication there, once the translation has been completed and published.

9. The entire original text to be translated (Microsoft Word file, stored in a USB) should be attached if available. In cases where the text to be translated is not available in a readable and editable (in text form) electronic version, the applicant must convert it (via OCR – Optical Character Recognition) into a readable and editable text (as a Microsoft Word file, scanned and unedited). 

When the Word file is received by the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture, it will not be saved on any computer, nor will it be transferred to any third party.

10. a. The rationale for the choice of the specific literary work and the profile of the intended readership (up to 250 words).

b. Regarding applications for the translation of collections of texts by various authors or selections from the works of a single author, it is essential to attach additional documentation in relation to:

i. The title to be given to the publication (i.e. of the collection/ selection).

ii. The name and capacity of the person who will be in charge of editing and writing the introductory note (if any).

iii. The rationale for the selection of the texts to be translated.

iv. The structure of the publication (sequence of texts).

v. The sources of the texts.

(It is provided that the texts that shall constitute the body of the collection/selection of works should be attached in readable and editable electronic file/files. (see also point 9 above.))

11. Declaration of consent (dated and signed) by the author or owner of royalties (author’s rights) for the translation of the work by the translator and for its publication by the applicant.

12. Written commitment by the applicant that a minimum of 600 copies of the translated publication will be printed.

13. Written commitment by the applicant that the translator’s name and the contribution of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture of Cyprus will both appear clearly in the publication.

14. Written commitment by the applicant that they have not submitted the same proposal for funding and have not secured funding from any other relevant national or European Grant-aid Schemes.

15. A written statement issued in accordance with Regulation 3(2) of the Control of State Aid (De minimis aid) Regulations of 2009 and 2012, R.A.A. 62/2014 (valid only for applicants based in Cyprus).

16. Five copies of the work to be translated (photocopies are accepted only in the case of collections/selections or works and works that are out of print). 

7. Composition and competencies of the body in charge of reviewing and assessing applications

1. A special 5-member Advisory Committee shall be in charge of reviewing and assessing the applications submitted in the context of the Scheme; this Committee shall convene once every year in order to carry out its work. The Chairman of the Committee shall be an officer from the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture. The remaining Committee members shall be appointed for a three-year mandate by the Director of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture.

2. At its annual meeting, the Committee shall review any applications submitted by 15th of May (exceptionally for this year).

3. The Committee reviews and assesses applications and submits reasoned recommendations for approval or rejection. The Committee assessments and recommendations are reasoned on the basis of the application assessment criteria.

4. It is also the responsibility of the Committee to specify the amount of funding to be granted within the already predefined framework regarding the eligible expenses. 

8. Approval of applications

The Committee’s reasoned recommendations shall be submitted to the Director of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture for approval and final decision. The approval or rejection decision shall be notified to the applicants in writing. The approval has a validity of two years. 

9. Minimum requirements to be fulfilled

The applications shall be submitted to the Committee for review once a completeness check has been carried out with regard to the requirements below:

1. Sufficient evidence shall be provided with regard to the applicant’s required experience, availability of adequate means and organisational infrastructure necessary to promote, disseminate, and market the publication effectively.

2. The translator recommended by the applicant shall possess the minimum required relevant experience. For purposes of implementing this Scheme, the publication of at least two (2) literary works translated by the translator from Greek into the target language shall be considered as evidence of possessing the minimum required experience.

3. The literary work to be translated has already been published in the original language (Greek).

4. The applicant is a publishing company, established as a private law legal entity.

5. The writer of the literary work intended for translation is/was a Cypriot citizen or a permanent resident of the Cyprus Republic for five consecutive years.

6. The applicants who have not delivered the documents which prove the completion of the undertaken project within the deadline of two years and have not justified this fact will not be eligible for future applications.

In order to submit any application to the Committee for review, the above requirements should be fulfilled cumulatively. 

10. Criteria for the assessment of applications

The criteria for the assessment of the applications and their respective weighting factors (WF) are as follows:

1. The work to be translated is both notable and important (WF: 25%)

2. The translator’s profile and the range of his/her translation activity (WF: 25%)

3. Clarity and completeness of the proposed promotion and marketing plan for the translated publication by the applicant (WF: 20%)

4. Possibilities/opportunities for enhanced dissemination of the work to be translated, based on population data with regard to the target language speakers (WF: 30%) 

Only those applications which secure a weighted score higher than 70 points may be approved. 

11. Terms of awarding the grant

The applicant will receive 60% of the approved grant after his written acceptance of the grant in the period of one month. The rest of the amount (40%) will be paid to the applicant following completion of the publication and delivery of ten copies to the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture as proof of completion of the project. The following supporting documents should also accompany the copies of the translated work:

1. The legal supporting documents (tax invoice, receipt of payment, and documentation/receipt of bank-to-bank money transfer) showing the amount paid by the publisher to the translator.

2. The legal supporting documents (tax invoice and receipt of payment) issued by the printer to the publisher, which should record the cost of printing the publication and the number of printed copies.

3. The legal supporting document (receipt of payment) for payment of royalties (where applicable).

4. Tax invoice issued by the applicant to the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture for the amount of the grant-aid.

5. A short description of the promotional actions that followed the publication and relevant evidence (photos, press releases, invitations etc.).

It is provided that the amount of the grant-aid shall in no case exceed the amount paid by the publisher as remuneration to the translator. 

12. Scheme’s financial resources

The Scheme shall be funded by the special appropriations provided for in the Budget of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture to be approved every time the Scheme is implemented. 

13. Legal basis

The Scheme is governed by Commission Regulation (EU) No 1407/2013 of the Committee of 18th December 2013 on the Application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to de minimis aid. This Regulation sets a ceiling of aid granted not exceeding €200,000 over a period of three fiscal years. The non-exceeding of the ceiling is ensured by the procedure provided for in the Regulations of 2009 (Regulatory Administrative Act 364/2009) on the Control of State Aid (De minimis aid), as they may be amended or replaced before the granting of the aid by the Competent Authority. 

14. Amendments/ changes, evaluation

During the period of validity of the Scheme and on the basis of the evaluation of any interim conclusions and findings that may arise regarding its implementation, the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture shall retain the right to make amendments and changes both in relation to the context and terms as well as in relation to the amounts made available for its implementation. 

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[1] ΕU C 229 of 8.8.2013, p. 1 

(EK/GS)