British council reveals fellows for International Publishing Fellowship Programme

Staff from Bonnier UK, Fitzcarraldo Editions and Scribe UK are among the professionals taking part in the British Council’s International Publishing Fellowship Programme. 

This year’s fellowship focuses on India and the UK and is aimed at “facilitating increased dialogue and exchange between the translation publishing ecosystems of both the nations”. The IPF 2022 will be a year-long programme consisting of reciprocal study trips, masterclasses, networking opportunities and professional upskilling. 

The fellows were selected after a written application and a shortlist interview round. The fellows representing the UK are Deborah Smith (Tilted Axis), Sarah Cleave (Comma Press), Sarah Braybrooke (Bonnier UK), Molly Slight (Scribe UK), Tamara Sampey-Jawad (Fitzcarraldo Editions) and Alice Mullen (Poetry Book Society). 

The fellows representing India are Bijal Vachharajani (Pratham Books), Rahul Soni (HarperCollins India), Yogesh Maitreya (Panther’s Paw Publications), Raman Shrestha (Rachna Books), Riddhi Maitra (BEE Books) and Sarabjeet Garcha (Copper Coin Publishing). 

The fellowship will also offer a development fund at the end of the programme for selected fellows, which they can utilise to further develop their professional skills and networks in the translation industry. 

The first public session for the fellowship will be held on 25th June and will focus on acquisitions and rights. Along with skill building and participating in networking events, the fellows will also be working on individual projects and presenting them to the cohort over the course of the fellowship. 

Jonathan Kennedy, director arts India, British Council, said: “We are delighted to announce the international publishing fellowships that enable connections between literary professionals from India and the UK. Our pioneering study in collaboration with The Art X Company titled ‘India Literature and Publishing Sector Research’ was a step in this direction and helped shape the strategic fellowship programme. The research highlighted the need for a forum for exchange between Indian and international publishers to support the creative economy of each. The fellowships respond to that ask and aim to create a global network for Indian publishers to strengthen a more diverse, inclusive and equitable literary sector.” 

Dipti Rao, director for projects and operations, at The Art X Company, added: “This opportunity for publishers to develop networks in both India and UK is a direct response to research-based insights garnered from the publishing sector. The recent renewed interest in translated works in the global market further offers the perfect environment for the IPF’s own focus on translations and supporting small publishers’ efforts to extend the reach of local-language lore. The 2022 cohort of fellows includes representatives from smaller towns, under-represented literary genres and unconventional perspectives, all at critical developmental stages of their careers, where the IPF is able to provide the environment for potential inflection points for these professionals. The first of two study trips will take place in September, as the 12 fellows gather in the UK, to represent the future of global publishing in the regions.”