You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
Small publisher Dedalus has launched a campaign to stop the Arts Council pulling its funding, potentially forcing the closure of the press after 25 years. Dedalus has exhorted its contacts to write to the Arts Council objecting to the funding cuts, and to sign its http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/16111.html" target="_blank" title="Don't let Dedalus die">online petition 'Don't let Dedalus die'. The petition so far has received 96 signatures.
Dedalus is one of a number of subsidised publishers facing difficulties after the Arts Council informed them before Christmas that they could expect either a complete cut-off or a reduction in public money.
Eric Lane, Dedalus publisher, said the loss of the nearly £25,000 stipend would almost certainly lead to the company’s closure. He wrote: "Dedalus is one of the most important independent literary publishers and translation houses in the UK, and one of a dying breed. It publishes English language fiction, which has been translated into 23 languages and has commissioned translations from 14 modern European languages, winning many Literary Awards along the way."
Lane added: "19 European cultural institutions have formed partnerships with Dedalus to help it put British publishing at the heart of Europe. Why won’t The Arts Council join them in funding Dedalus?"
Letters were mailed out to 27 annually funded publishers on 14th December by the Arts Council, saying they Publishers receiving the letters will have until 15th January to appeal against the decision, which covers the period between April 2008 and March 2011.