Fellowship and grant programmes to the 75th Frankfurter Buchmesse
Industry professionals from all over the world can apply now until 30 April 2023
Promoting international exchange, and supporting up-and-coming young professionals in the book industry - for five decades, Frankfurter Buchmesse has been committed to networking and further education for the international industry with its funding programmes. The application phase for the fellowship and grant programmes for this year's Frankfurter Buchmesse (18-22 October 2023) is now open and will run until 30 April 2023. While the Invitation Programme enables publishers from countries with a developing book industry to take part in Frankfurter Buchmesse, the Frankfurt Fellowship Programme is aimed at publishers, editors, licensing managers and literary agents from all over the world. In addition, the Special Programme for publishers from Ukraine and neighbouring countries will take place for the second time. Frankfurt International Translators, on the other hand, offers a programme specially tailored to literary and non-fiction translators.
The four programmes are run with the financial support of the German Federal Foreign Office.
Frankfurt Fellowship Programme (8-22 October 2023)
The Frankfurt Fellowship is aimed at young publishers, editors, rights and licence managers and literary agents from all over the world. This intensive two-week training and networking programme includes visits to publishing houses, agencies and bookshops, market presentations and numerous networking opportunities in Frankfurt and Berlin. The highlight is taking part in and attending Frankfurter Buchmesse 2023. Requirements for acceptance onto the programme include several years of work in the publishing industry and a good command of English. The programme was launched in 1998 to help mark the 50th anniversary of Frankfurter Buchmesse. So far, 400 participants from more than 60 countries have benefited from it and form an active international network. Frankfurter Buchmesse and the Federal Foreign Office cover the costs of travel and accommodation within Germany, participation in the training programme in Berlin and Frankfurt, as well as a share of the catering costs.
www.buchmesse.de/en/fellows(opens in a new window)
Invitation Programme for publishers from countries with developing book industries (12-22 October 2023)
With the Invitation Programme, publishers from Africa, Asia, the Arab world, Latin America and the Caribbean travel to Frankfurt every year to present themselves at Frankfurter Buchmesse. They also take part in training and networking opportunities. The programme, which was launched in the 1970s, is aimed at small, independent publishers who are seeking to establish themselves on the international scene through their participation at the industry’s biggest get-together. The prerequisites for participation are an interest in international book titles, several years of experience in publishing and a good command of English. The publishers will receive support and help to prepare for their appearance at the fair in advance through online events. In addition to a subsidized stand presence, travel and accommodation costs are also covered.
www.buchmesse.de/en/invitation-programme(opens in a new window)
Frankfurt International Translators (16-22 October 2023)
The Frankfurt International Translators Programme is aimed at international fiction and non-fiction translators who translate texts from German and have already published at least three books. The aim of the programme is to promote exchange between international literary translators of German-language literature and to foster networking between translators, publishers and editors. The programme finances the flight and up to five nights' hotel accommodation in Frankfurt as well as participation in Frankfurter Buchmesse with specialist seminars, workshops and networking events specific to the target group. This programme takes place every two years, alternating with the "Frankfurt International Booksellers" programme.
Special Programme for publishers from Ukraine and neighbouring countries (16-21 October 2023)
The programme brings together publishers, editors, licensing managers and literary agents from Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Hungary. The aim is to network intensively with each other, and with other fair participants from all round the world, and to provide training for the international licensing business. The programme was launched in 2022 to provide an alternative to a training and networking programme originally planned in Kyiv. Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Special Programme will take place in Frankfurt again in 2023.
The exchange between the 15 participants will start digitally and then lead to numerous face to face networking and training opportunities on site during Frankfurter Buchmesse itself. The costs for accommodation and some of the meals in Frankfurt will be covered. In addition, there is the possibility to apply for a travel allowance. Participants must have at least two years of professional experience in the publishing industry, with a focus on rights and licences trading, and a good command of English. The Special Programme is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office and curated and organised by Frankfurter Buchmesse in cooperation with the International Book Arsenal Festival and the Goethe-Institut Ukraine.
An overview of all the Buchmesse’s sponsorship programmes can be found here:
www.buchmesse.de/en/fellowship-and-grant-programme(opens in a new window)