Apply for funding for publishing activities: Publishers Assistance Fund
Publishing companies can apply for funding from the Publishers Assistance Fund to support publishing activities that grow and sustain the province’s publishing industry. You can apply until 1 May 2024.
Use the Publishers Assistance Fund Application Form to apply for funding to increase sustainability, export capacity and marketplace growth of the publishing sector in Nova Scotia.
You need to use the funding to support publishing activities that:
- have clear, objective and measurable results that demonstrate direct and positive impacts to the long-term growth of individual publishers
- make a significant cultural contribution to the province
Funding amount
The Publishers Assistance Fund Fund may fund eligible costs up to 50% of the applicant’s eligible sales revenue. Funding is allocated based on your sales revenue and an evaluation of your publishing program.
Eligible costs
Eligible expenses include:
- editorial
- printing and design
- author development
- author royalties
- marketing, promotion and advertising
- capacity building
- packaging and shipping
Ineligible costs include:
- general and ongoing operational expenditures
- capital projects
- earnings or wages of owners of publishing companies
- staff benefit costs
- fixed overhead costs (like telephone, fax, photocopier and computer costs);
- occupancy costs (rent or mortgage of facilities)
- hospitality
Eligibility
You can apply for funding if you:
- are a legally registered company or society with a head office and general operations in Nova Scotia for at least 2 years
- get more than 50% of total sales revenue from book sales
- publish original titles as the focus of your business
- publish books under your own imprint, in printed or other form
- distribute your own titles through regular book-selling channels
- maintain full control over the editorial process
- have editorial independence from any other company
- have at least 75% of titles produced by authors other than principals in the company or related companies
- enter into contractual agreements with authors or copyright holders
- issue clear royalty statements on a regular basis
- fulfill all contractual obligations and agreed terms to writers, illustrators, translators, artists and other services and licensors
- are managed and financially controlled by Nova Scotia residents (who own at least 75% of the company)
- demonstrate fiscal viability by providing audited financial statements
- have annual net book sales revenue of at least $20,000 (from most recent fiscal year)
- have at least 4 eligible titles in print
- have published a minimum of 2 first-edition titles per year for the past 2 years
- show ongoing commitment to publishing original titles
You need to apply by 1 May 2024.
How to apply
- Review detailed program criteria in the Publishers Assistance Fund Guidelines.
- Complete the funding application.
- Check the application for details on all required supporting documents.
- Complete the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Form.
- Send your completed application and supporting documents by email.
- The Publishers Assistance Fund emails you an application confirmation within 2 days (contact the program if you don’t get it).
How long it takes
It should take 2 months for the program to review your application and let you know if your application is approved. It can take longer if more information is needed or if your application hasn’t been filled in correctly.
Cost
There is no cost to apply for the funding.
Before you start
Make sure you have:
- Registry of Joint Stock Companies ID
- list of all grants received during the past year from all federal and provincial funding sources
- total sales revenue
- details on the book titles you’d like funding for