Author International Travel Fund

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME:

This fund has been established by Scottish Books International to support writers who have been invited overseas to promote their work. This fund can only support travel costs at this time.

The fund aims to:

• Increase opportunities for Scottish writers to attend festivals and other promotion or exchange events overseas.
• Remove barriers for Scottish writers from all backgrounds to take up these opportunities.
• Develop relationships between Scottish writers and festivals, publishers and organisations overseas. In its first year of operation, the fund supported 13 Scottish writers.

The types of things that this fund supports include:

• Invitations to be part of an event as part of a literary festival or at a literature or cultural organisation.
• Trips for publicity events to support publication of a work.
• Invitations for writers to present their work as part of trade fairs or conferences.
• Invitations to a residency or creative exchange overseas, where support for travel costs is sought.

It should be noted that travel costs can include the cost of visas, where relevant.

Priority is currently given to public-facing events that facilitate the promotion of a piece of work by the author.

Academic events taking place through institutions of higher education will not be prioritised for funding unless they are able to evidence significant public benefit.

The fund is open to Scottish writers who have been invited to attend an international event.

Writers must be practising, professional writers with a demonstrable track record of work.

International is defined as outwith the United Kingdom.

A Scottish writer is defined as a writer living and working in Scotland, or a writer from Scotland but based elsewhere.

Applications are welcome from the writer themselves, or from the organisation who have invited the writer.

The fund cannot support Scottish writers based elsewhere seeking to return to Scotland or the UK for an event.

Applicants can apply for a maximum of £1000 to support travel costs towards their trip.

Please note that if you need additional costs for access requirements or childcare costs (that push your application over the £1000 upper limit) then this is fine and you should outline what these costs are in addition to the basic costs associated with the trip.

The total number of awards made will be dependent on available budget – but we would hope to support between 5–10 recipients per quarter.

It is recommended that the hosting organisation be able to provide support for the trip. This could include:

• Fees for any events.
• Accommodation.
• Per diems.
• Travel support/airport transfers.

A letter confirming the invitation and outlining the support being offered by the host organisation is required as part of the application process.