With $6 million taken from the operating budget of the Australia Council ​to fund the Book Council of Australia, the literary sector was concerned that instrumental programs would be discontinued.
Allaying some of these fears, the Australia Council has announced it will continue to support Australian literature through the continuation of one of its key international programs, the Visiting International Publishers (VIPs) program.
Since 1998, Australia Council has used the VIPs model to promote rights sales of Australian titles and provide a vital bridge between Australian writers and the international market.
The Australia Council’s Wendy Were, Executive Director, Arts Strategy said the program is crucial to ‘bolstering the sales and networks of Australian publishers and thus the income and international profile for Australian writers.’
To be held alongside the 2016 Sydney Writers’ Festival in May, the program has long recognised that writers’ festivals ​are an important platform for authors to connect with readers and reach new audiences.
Recent independent research into international arts activity has confirmed that the Australia Council’s expertise, networks and introductions have been critical in getting Australian artists and arts organisations into international markets.
‘The Australia Council is committed to growing the profile of Australian arts by identifying and supporting strategic initiatives that showcase Australian work to new markets and audiences,’ said Were.
A collective of esteemed writers, readers and artists last week expressed their confidence in the expertise of the Australia Council. An open letter requested that the administration of the Book Council of Australia be transferred to the Australia Council for the Arts ‘where it can be more effectively managed through the Australia Council’s peer assessment practices and accountable governance.’
In the VIPs program, international publishers and literary agents are brought to Australia to attend an intensive week-long program of meetings, events and industry discussions alongside a leading Australian writers’ festival to showcase Australia’s literary talent and build audiences for Australian writers.
The program has welcomed over 220 international editors, publishers and literary agents to Australia since 1998, and generated up to $1 million a year in international rights sales for Australian writers.
