The National Book Council is issuing a minimum of eight grants totalling €40,000 for Melitensia publications of significant cultural, educational and intellectual value which do not have wide markets due to their specialised nature.

Each project will get a maximum allocation of €5,000.

Chairman Mark Camilleri explained that while Maltese novels were popular, interesting works of a more profound and complex nature are not easily profitable since the niche audience in Malta is a small one. Additionally, many publishers do not risk publishing them since they would not be making much profit.

The Book Fund is divided into three grants: publishing, education and foreign promotion.

Publishers and/or authors may apply for subsidies to publish one or more books. The grant may finance the artwork, editing, research, documentation, illustration, printing, marketing and payment of the author.

The education grant will allow publishers or authors to attend short courses while a travel grant may be given to publishers or authors who opt to travel to foreign fairs, festivals and other events to promote their own material.

All projects must consist of cultural, educational, academic and literary value.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said that while he was aware that the grant won’t be solving all the problems in the sector, it will help serve as a boost to publishers and authors.