Albertine Foundation works in partnership with Villa Albertine’s Books & Ideas department, Institut français, and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, to promote French and Francophone literature, offering several programs to support the English translation of French books in all categories (fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, comics and poetry).
Villa Albertine runs two programs in the United States: The Albertine Translation Fund and Prizes, and Acquisition of Rights.
For information about the Acquisition of Rights program, please click here.
In 2006, Albertine Foundation (formerly known as FACE Foundation) and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, in partnership with the PEN American Center, launched the French Voices program. The objective was to create what would become, over an initial period of three years, a collection of 30 books representing the best of contemporary French and Francophone literature and thought. Sixteen years later, the collection has largely surpassed its objective and is now more than 170 titles strong. It includes a wide range of works representing some of the best of French-language fiction and non-fiction alike.
In 2022, the Book Department of the newly launched Villa Albertine is proud to reveal the Albertine Translation fund, a new and enhanced version of French Voices.
The Albertine Translation fund recognizes the quality of both the original work and its translation. A committee of independent experts (academics, translators, and publishers) selects works that epitomize the many facets of a vibrant French and francophone literary scene. Grants are awarded to books representing new trends and thoughts in the realms of fiction, children’s literature, poetry, graphic novels and non-fiction.
The Albertine Translation fund honors both translators and American publishers for English translations of works that have been published in France within the last 10 years. Each book receives $2,000 to cover publishing costs, and an additional amount covering 50% of translation costs – up to $5,000.
The Albertine Translation Committee also selects, among the grantees, two Albertine Translation Prize winners each year – one in fiction and one in nonfiction. The winners receive $5,000, awarded directly to the translator(s).
It should be noted that works that do not have an American publisher can still be awarded a grant from the Albertine Translation fund. The French publisher, translator or author who receives a grant has a year to secure an acquisition of rights contract with an American publisher for the English translation.
Works published in the US that benefited from the Albertine Translation fund must carry a logo of the program on their front or back cover and mention of the program on the copyright page.
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The second 2024 call for applications is open
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Application deadline: JUNE 16, 2024
Books & Ideas Department translation@villa-albertine.org