You who are a professional translator of Swedish literature and drama can apply for this contribution. By Swedish literature we mean literature written in Swedish or in one of the national minority languages and published in Sweden.

Translators of literature from other languages into Swedish, as well as organizations, publishers or networks, cannot apply for this contribution.

You can apply for a contribution for costs related to work-related travel and competence-enhancing activities, for example through participation in projects or events such as festivals, congresses, seminars, fairs, workshops. You can also apply for support for travel costs that are connected to work on a specific translation.

A contribution can also be sought for mentorship collaboration between an established translator and an apprentice. In these cases, it is the established translator who applies for the contribution.

We do not give contributions to travel, events and activities that have already taken place.

Sample translation

You can apply for support to make a sample translation from a Swedish work that you want to present to relevant publishers in your language area. The maximum amount you can apply for is 12,000 kronor.

With your application you should attach a current CV with a list of your previous translations from Swedish.

In your application you describe why you have chosen that particular book, which publishers you want to present it to and why these publishers are relevant. You must have written permission for a sample translation from the rights holder. You attach the permission to your application.

One year after you have been granted the support, you must submit a report to the Swedish Arts Council. A link to a report form can be found further down on this page.

Mentorship

Experienced translators can apply for support to mentor a translator at the beginning of their translation career. The maximum amount is 12,000 SEK and the fee is paid out when the application has been approved. For the apprentice, the mentoring is free of charge. The mentorship can involve guidance either for the apprentice's work with a sample translation or for their work with a translation to be published by an established publisher. An apprentice is counted as a new translator until they have had their second complete work published.

When the apprentice and mentor have reached an agreement on collaboration, the mentor submits an application for remuneration to the Swedish Arts Council. A contract, signed by both parties, their respective CVs and a motivational letter from the apprentice are attached to the application.

Residency stays in Stockholm

A new development since 2023 is that we have started a collaboration with the Swedish Writers' Association. This means that for two weeks every year we will offer translators of Swedish literature a seven-day residency in the Writers' Association's guest rooms in central Stockholm, Drottninggatan 88 B–C.

There are two small rooms with a shared kitchen and a seating area. The two rooms are at our/the translators' disposal for one week. No other guests are present in the premises during the week, and the translators therefore have good opportunities for socializing and exchange of experience.

During 2025 the first residency week falls in May, the second in December. If you are interested: get in touch about exact dates! The Writers' Association will decide on suitable weeks at the end of January.

How the application procedure and residency stay work

All translators, both experienced and those at the beginning of their careers, can apply for a stipend for a residency stay. Applications are made on the same form as for the translator contribution. Notification of a stipend is sent to all applicants approximately five weeks after the deadline. Swedish Literature Exchange decides which translators are awarded a stipend.

Translators apply for a standard amount: 3,000 kronor for travel within Europe, 8,000 kronor for travel from countries outside Europe. In addition, a contribution for the accommodation itself is applied for, which is 3,640 kronor for the entire stay.

In their application, applicants describe their plans for the residency stay, which translation projects are currently relevant and explain as thoroughly as possible why they wish to spend a week in Stockholm. Also attach a current CV.

Translators who have been awarded a residency stipend book the room and pay for their stay in direct contact with the Writers' Association.

The rooms are small single rooms with windows overlooking the courtyard, there is a bed and a small desk. It may be good to plan to sit, for example, at a library to get a change of scenery during the day. Tips on libraries and similar places can be found at the guest house.

We provide translator guests with contact information for relevant actors in the Swedish book world, and together with the Writers' Association also provide tips on literature events taking place during the week. A joint meeting with us is of course also included.

Here you can find more information about the guest rooms

The contribution can be applied for continuously throughout the year but applications are processed at four occasions per year.

The application must be made in good time before your departure/the event takes place. Notification of decision is given approximately six weeks after the final application deadline.

Applications received after 24:00 on the final application day are processed in the next decision round.

You apply via the Swedish Arts Council's website.

Your application must contain a careful description of your project. If you are applying for support for a work-related trip, you must specify the date of your trip and a detailed budget.

Here you can see a copy of the application form. Note that it may be changed. The copy should not be sent to us.

Copy of the application form

Support for sample translation

As a professional working translator, you can apply for support to work on a sample translation from a Swedish work that you want to present to relevant publishers in your language area. In your application you should describe why you want to work with the work you have chosen, which publishers you want to present it to and why they are particularly relevant. Also be careful to complete the space intended for your CV.

The maximum amount you can apply for is 12,000 SEK.

After you have submitted your application and received a KUR number, you can send attachments tokulturradet@kulturradet.se, referring to the KUR number you received. A copy of the rights holder's permission for you to make a trial translation is mandatory. The permission can be attached to the application, for example in the form of a copy of an email.

One year after you have been awarded sample translation support, you must submit a report on how the project has progressed. A form for your report can be found further down on this page.

Support for mentorship projects

Experienced translators can apply for support to mentor a translator who is at the beginning of their career.

The maximum amount for a mentorship project is 12,000 SEK and the fee is paid out to the mentor when the application has been approved.

A mentorship project can focus either on developing a sample translation or on working with a full book that has already been accepted for publication by an established publisher. Apprentice translators are counted as new translators until their second complete work has been published.

The mentor can submit an application to the Swedish Arts Council when both parties have agreed on a collaboration.

After the mentor has submitted their application and received a KUR number, they send attachments tokulturradet@kulturradet.se, referring to the KUR number.

These attachments are mandatory:

1. A written agreement that both the mentor and the apprentice have signed. It should contain a plan and a formulated goal for the mentorship, information about which text they will work with, an estimate of how much text is submitted for review, and how often the pair has joint meetings, virtual or in person, and how long the mentoring will last. In the same agreement, the parties also enter into a joint declaration that the conversations are confidential to ensure a safe exchange for both parties
2. The mentor's and apprentice's CVs
3. The apprentice's motivational letter about why they want to start a mentorship exchange

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