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Arcadia authors fight cuts

07.01.08 Tom Tivnan

Two Arcadia authors have launched an online petition to protest proposed Arts Council England (ACE) cuts to the independent publisher's funding. The Arcadia petition is the second from a threatened ACE funded publisher, after Dedalus set up its "Don't Let Dedalus" die online petition.

Joan Smith and Lucy Popescu have circulated an open letter to ACE saying that the cuts are "disproportionate to the money saved by ACE". They add: "Now, when Arcadia needs to consolidate its success to date and fund growth, ACE has announced this substantial cut in future funding. The most likely effect is to deny the company the opportunity it needs to establish a proper infrastructure, and put its long-term future in question."

Smith and Popescu are urging Arcadia friends and supporters to add their names to the petition. Up to 150 people have signed it since it was sent out at the weekend.

Gary Pulsifer, Arcadia m.d., said he was unsure that the petition would have any effect, but added: "It does show to the Arts Council the strength of support we have, not just in this country but throughout the world."

Arcadia, which this year will receive £42,230 from ACE, is set to get an inflation-based rise next year, then see its funding slashed by 25% for the subsequent two years. Arcadia was one of 27 annually funded publishers to be notified of proposed cuts as part of an ACE funding cull. Arcadia has until 15th January to appeal against the decision, which covers the period between April 2008 and March 2011.

Over the weekend, Dedalus, which stands to lose its entire £25,000 a year grant, announced its "Don't Let Dedalus" die online petition, which thus far has received 206 signatures.

tom tivnan Arcadia Arts Council

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By Eric Dickens

It is heartening to see that there are so many people (250, late on Monday 7th Jan. 2008) that have signed the Dedalus online petition. Both Arcadia and Dedalus appear to be in similar boats, though it looks as if Dedalus will be hit harder. This withdrawal of funding does highlight how little insight some funding bodies have into the translation of foreign literature and its availability in British bookshops. Britain is far behind the rest of Europe. Some 3% of British books have been translated from another language; in France this is 23%; in Germany, Scandinavia and the Netherlands about 60%. There is no logical reason why books written in English are so superior to those written in other languages that British publishers must shun most contemporary literature, and so many modern classics, from Europe and beyond. I have spent 30 years learning languages (e.g. Estonian) and their background cultures, and make invidious distinctions between the pittance that we literary translators earn, compared to what is paid by public and private patrons for the antics of Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and especially Mark Wallinger. I hope that the Arts Council of England begins to realise what an important contribution literary translation makes to the cultural health of Britain.

07 Jan 08 21:57

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