Swedish Literature Exchange – grants for Translation of Swedish Drama for Stage Perfromance

70 days left Open for application Go to year overview 2 Sep 2025 - 29 Jan 2026 Closed 30 Jan 2026 - 23 Apr 2026 Closed 24 Apr 2026 - 1 Sep 2026 Closed 2 Sep 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 Add to calendar Literature and translation Grants for translation of Swedish literature and drama to other Nordic languages The objective of this grant is to increase publishing of quality literature in other Nordic languages. Since the grant is established in the national literature centres and their national and international networks, it can contribute to a wider discussion on translated literature. From 2 September, applications for this grant will be submitted through our new application system. This is the first grant within the Swedish Literature Exchange programme to be offered through the new system in autumn 2026. From 2027, all our grants will be available through this system. When applications are open, a button labelled “Apply for the grant in the new system” is displayed further down the page. Click the button to access the application system. Webinar on YouTube Grants for translation and promotion of Swedish literature and drama Application dates Sami literature at Tjállegoahte Författarcentrum in Sápmi. Photograph: Elin Anna Labba. 1. Can you apply? Applications for the grant can be submitted by professional publishing houses in the Nordic countries with a developed plan for distribution of the translation in question. Publishing houses applying for grants must have documented quality publications and professional distribution channels. Translators and authors cannot apply for grants for translation or production support. 2. For what can you receive a grant? The Nordic Council of Ministers’ culture and art programme have reserved funding for translations of literature and drama from one Nordic language to another. At its disposal, the Swedish Arts Council have funding for translations from Swedish and the national minority languages. Swedish literature and drama means literature and drama, written in Swedish or any of the national minority languages and published in Sweden. The grant covers either translation costs or both translation- and some production costs for translated editions of Swedish works. Swedish works includes literature written in Swedish or any of the national minority languages in Sweden, and originally published in Sweden. A condition for the grant is that the translation is done directly from Swedish or any of the national minority languages, and not via any third language. Exceptions may be granted for languages where there are no professional translators directly from the national minority languages. This requires a written approval from the rightsholder that clearly states which edition shall be used for the translation. Swedish literature and drama entail literature and drama, written in Swedish or any of the national minority languages and published in Sweden. Applications for works written in Swedish that are originally being published in Finland are managed by FILI. Read more about FILIThe grant applies to translation of: prose fiction, poetry, picture books, comics and graphic novels for adults, children and young adults non-fiction in the area of general culture essays drama for publication in book form The support scheme does not apply to translation of: specialised scholarly works, reference books, study materials, textbooks, Festschrifts, homage volumes, publishing of sheet music, yearbooks, books of local interest, exhibition catalogues, hobby books, craft books, handbooks, cookbooks, and travel guides The sum you apply for should correspond to the fee you have agreed to in the signed translation contract with the translator. This full fee needs to be paid to the translator, regardless of the amount that the Swedish Arts Council has granted. The translator needs to confirm having received the full amount before a disbursement of the grant can take place. Grants may be requested for translation costs and/or production costs. A maximum sum of SEK 20,000 can be granted as production support. Grants for production costs may be awarded for four-colour illustrated books or for books that are considered to be particularly costly to publish in translation for other reasons, such as the production costs of poetry, comics and graphic novels. The grant cannot cover copyright costs. Regardless of genre, the work must have a high linguistic and literary quality. The grant is intended to promote Swedish contemporary literature, but can also be awarded to classics. Introduction of authors in new languages, as well as literature for children and young adults are prioritised, The lesser languages are prioritised as well, although there are no yearly percentages or quotas. As a part of the profiling of the Nordic Council Literature Prize it is possible to apply for grants to translate the awarded books to Nordic languages for up to three years after the announcement of the award. Information about the other Nordic countries funding bodies: DenmarkFinland Faeroe IslandsGreenlandIcelandNorwaySapmi 3. When can you apply? Applications are open all year round, but submitted applications are evaluated three times a year. Your application must be sent in before the book has been printed and published. The book cannot be printed before the results of the application have been sent out, so do remember to apply in time. Please note that your application must be received by the Swedish Arts Council no later than 24.00 on the last application date. If your application is submitted outside of the application period or after the deadline, it will be evaluated in the next application round. If an application is incomplete and the applicant does not complete it within the time communicated by the Swedish Arts Council, the Swedish Arts Council cannot process it in the current application round. 4. How do you apply? From 2 September, applications for this grant will be submitted through our new applica