The Bookseller.com

9th January 2009

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Scottish Arts Council axes grants

30.04.08

The Scottish Arts Council has axed grants to about half a dozen Scottish publishers worth around £100,000, according to the Scotsman. Publishers have been told not to apply for the "block grants", in a move that has brought widespread dismay.

Those losing out include established companies such as Polygon, to small Scottish outfits like Luath Press. Grant funding for publishing individual books has been increased by £40,000; however critics argued cutting the block grants makes it difficult for publishers to plan and invest, reports the newspaper.

The Scottish Arts Council confirmed that the block grant fund has gone from £100,000 to nothing. It was "suspended temporarily for this financial year", a spokeswoman said.

But a general book-publishing fund has risen from £110,000 to £150,000 in 2008-9. The decision was made as the council developed its business plan after its settlement from the Scottish Government.

The Scotsman

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