The PEN (poets, playwrights, essayists, editors and novelists) Translation Fund provides grants to those who seek to translate world literature into English. Each grant consists of a cash prize between $2,000 and $3,000. To be eligible for this grant, the applicant must intend to translate a book-length work of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry or drama into English. The work cannot have already been translated into English. Those who seek to translate anthologies with multiple translators, works of literary criticism, scholarly texts or technical texts will not be eligible to apply.
The translator may be of any nationality or citizenship. The fund encourages applications from those who desire to take on translation projects they would not be able to undergo without the grant. If a translator has previously been awarded a grant from this fund, he may not apply until three years have passed.
PEN American Center
588 Broadway, Suite 303
New York, NY 10012
212-334-1660 ext. 108
pen.org
The National Endowment for the Arts offers literature fellowships to previously published translators of works of prose, poetry and drama into English. Works of scholarly writing or translations being undertaken by those seeking academic degrees will not be eligible. The grants are between $12,500 and $25,000 and the amount will be determined based on the project’s artistic qualities and merit. Works that are underrepresented in English or have not yet been translated into English will be given priority.
Eligibility will be determined primarily by a project’s literary excellence and value. Those who have previously received three or more creative writing or translation fellowships from this institution, or any one fellowship within the past five years, will not be eligible to apply.
National Endowment for the Arts
1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20506
202-682-5400
arts.gov
The American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) offers a National Translation Award each year to a book-length translation published the previous year. The book’s publisher(s) must nominate it for this award. The translator of the winning book will receive a cash gift, which is set at $2,500 as of 2010.
Eligible translations must be of book-length works of fiction, poetry, drama, or creative non-fiction. Works of literary criticism and philosophy are not eligible. The book must have been translated into English and published by a United States or Canadian publisher. The book will be judged on literary merit, both the merit of the original work and of the translation, and on the translation’s ability to replicate the artistry of the original work. The judges will give preference to translations of contemporary works but will consider translations of older works as well.
American Literary Translators Association
The University of Texas at Dallas
Box 830688 (JO 51)
Richardson, TX 75083
972-883-2093
literarytranslators.org