THE MIKHAIL PROKHOROV FOUNDATION AND THE YELTSIN FUND
PRESENT:

TRANSCRIPT
THE SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR PROMOTION OF RUSSIAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

Long-term support program for the promotion of Russian literature and culture was organized by the joint efforts of two Russian Charitable Foundations: the Mikhail Prokhorov Foundation and The Yeltsin Fund. The aim of the program is to promote international relations and broaden the reputation of Russian literature and culture in a world context.

At present the program includes two main projects:

I. Support for the translation of Russian fiction, poetry and non-fiction throughout the world;

II. Awards for the best literary translation from the Russian language.

I. PROGRAM FOR THE SUPPORT OF TRANSLATION OF RUSSIAN FICTION, POETRY AND NON-FICTION
International Project of the Mikhail Prokhorov Foundation

The support program for the translation of Russian fiction, poetry and non-fiction focuses on the financial support of translations of Russian texts in the liberal arts (history, philosophy, political science, sociology etc), as well as works of classic and contemporary fiction and poetry.
Preference is given to intellectual, experimental and innovative works of contemporary Russian authors, as well as works of classic literature never previously translated and little known outside Russia.
The program offers the following kinds of support:
For fiction and poetry: 
- full or partial acquisition of rights; 
- full or partial payment for translation; 
For non-fiction: 
- full or partial acquisition of rights; 
- full or partial payment for translation; 
- partial payment of the editorial and printing expenses for the publication.
The decision to subsidize the publication of a work, and also the decision of the type of support, is taken by an independent board of experts.

Required documents: In order to participate in the program the publisher must supply a completed grant application form as well as information about the publisher, a thorough price breakdown for the publication, a short explanation of the choice of work and a curriculum vitae of the translator (please find a sample of the application form in the pack of documents).

Application form (to load)

All these documents should be sent to the following e-mail address: transcript@prokhorovfund.ru

Postal address for documents (with note «TRANSCRIPT»): Russia,129626, Moscow, POB 55 (only for the materials, which cannot be sent by e-mail).

Applications are accepted from publishers throughout the calendar year.
Meetings of the board are held twice a year:
Publishers are informed of the decision of the board no later than two months after the application has been reviewed.
If the application is approved, the publisher should provide the program with the following documents: 
A signed copy of the contract with the rights holder (or a signed option contract); 
A signed copy of the contract with the translator; 
A thorough breakdown of expenses for the publication.
Then the program will conclude an agreement with the publisher.

Support procedure: 
When the program acquires the rights, the relevant funds are transferred as soon as a copy of the signed contract with the Russian copyright holder is presented. In this case, the sum of the contract is paid directly to the Russian copyright holder. 
When paying for translation and/or editorial and typographical expenses, the relevant funds are transferred to the publisher as soon as ten copies of the work are presented, along with à thorough breakdown of expenses.
The project is considered complete when ten copies of the work are presented by the publisher.
The program will be launched from January 15, 2009. Form this date you are welcome to send applications for the support.
Please find the application form and more information on: www.prokhorovfund.ru or send us your questions to: transcript@prokhorovfund.ru  (contact person – Vera Roiter).

II. AWARDS FOR THE BEST LITERARY TRANSLATION FROM RUSSIAN LANGUAGE
International Humanitarian Projects of The Yeltsin Fund 

Rossica Translate Prize (founded in U.K. in 2005) is awarded for the best literary translation from Russian into English. The prize is organized in cooperation with NPO Academy Rossica. The prize is awarded once every two years. 

Russophonia Prize (founded in France in 2006), the first annual prize, is awarded for the best literary translation from Russian into French. Organized in collaboration with French NPO France-Ural. 

The annual prize Russia-Italy. Throughout the Centuries (founded in 2007), is the first award for the best literary translation from Russian into Italian. Organized in collaboration with the Russian Culture Foundation. 

Ivan Turgenev prize (founded in 2008 in Germany) is awarded for the best translation of Russian literature into German. The co-founder of the prize was the Tolerance International Foundation for Humanitarian Research. The first ceremony was held in Berlin on December 14, 2008. 

Russian Literature in Spain award for the best translation of Russian literature into Spanish is the first such prize in the country. It is to be awarded for the first time at the end of 2008

About the organizers:

Mikhail Prokhorov Foundation (The Charitable Foundation for Culture Initiatives) was set up in 2004 and has become the first Russian charity working systematically within one particular region. The Foundation operates in the largest Siberian area – Krasnoyarsk region. Also the Foundation supports the exclusive international and federal projects aimed at integration of Russian culture into global context.
The Foundation’s concept is based on the expanded notion of culture, its borders and social functions. The Foundation sets long-terms aims on development of contemporary cultural infrastructure, new forms of cultural self-management and emergence of intellectual elite – new creative class of Russia.
One of the Foundation’s priorities is to support start-up stages of cultural innovations and creative initiatives.
Also every year the number of supported large-scale projects outside the region is increasing. These are remarkable national events in the field of culture and sports, the important social and cultural institutions, which set up new cultural brands and trends. The important part is promotion of drama projects, theatres and festivals, innovative performances and tours.

The distinctive feature of the Foundation is its operational project activities. The Foundation launched and released a number of large-scale annual events: Krasnoyarsk Book Fair, Theatre Festival, Festivals of Contemporary Arts and Poetry, International Conferences on issues of Local History, Film Festival, etc.
More details of the work of Mikhail Prokhorov Foundation you may find on the official website: www.prokhorovfund.ru


The Yeltsin Fund was established in 2000. Its principal aim is to help develop the creative potential of young people, who will uphold the interests of Russia in the 21st century. This is the fundamental idea on which the Foundation is based: the support of young talent in the fields of education, science, art and sport. Another of the objectives of the Foundation is the analysis of the changes that occurred in Russia at the end of the 20th century.
The Foundation carries out historical and political research of the reforms introduced in Russia at the turn of the century, and examines the role of the first president as one of the key figures in Russian and world politics.
The Foundation works to help establish peace, friendship and understanding between nations, and provide assistance in the prevention of social, national and religious conflicts. The practical activities of the foundation in this area consist in intensive participation in international humanitarian affairs.
The Yeltsin Foundation is extremely active in promoting the Russian language among Russia’s close neighbours and further abroad.
The Foundation assists in the creation of Russian culture centres in other countries. In collaboration with the Foundation for the Development of Cultural Centres Abroad, such centres have been opened in countries such as China, Kazakhstan and Lithuania.
Under the aegis of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Yeltsin Foundation has organized campaigns to disseminate the Russian language throughout the world. Russian language and literature textbooks, dictionaries, portraits of Russian writers, Russian flags, Russian maps and books have all been sent abroad to encourage interest in Russian language, literature and culture. Over the past five years, these campaigns have focussed on countries such as China, Mongolia, Rumania, Bulgaria, Portugal, Turkey, Lithuania, Finland, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, India and Montenegro.
More details of this and other projects can be found on the official website of the Foundation of Russia’s First President Boris Yeltsin www.yeltsin.ru