Eleven Publishers Receive Export Support from Creative BC

Vancouver, B.C. (April 14, 2023) –  Today, Creative BC is pleased to announce the recipients of the FY2022/23 Market Expansion Fund (the Fund). This program provides financial support for B.C. publishers to attend select fairs, conferences, and events for the purpose of promoting their publishing lists. B.C.’s publishers are dependent on export marketing to sustain and grow their businesses.

The grants delivered by the Fund help B.C. entrepreneurs access these essential global marketplaces for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film, and digital channels.

Applicants to the Fund can secure financial assistance for digital or in-person presence at any of the long list of qualifying markets now accessible through the Fund. This year’s list included 17 domestic Canadian markets and 375 foreign markets where publishers in order to expand their business opportunities through foreign and subsidiary rights sales and the development of digital marketing materials or campaigns. The following 11 companies received grants totaling $111,662:

1. Anvil Press, Vancouver ($10,500)
2. Greystone Books, Vancouver ($13,000)
3. Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park ($11,000)
4. Medicine Wheel Publishing, Victoria ($11,000)
5. Now or Never Publishing, Surrey ($7,500)
6. Orca Books Ltd., Victoria ($13,000)
7. Ronsdale Press, Vancouver ($7,500)
8. Royal BC Museum, Victoria ($11,000)
9. Strong Nations Publishing Inc., Nanaimo ($10,000)
10. Tidewater Press, New Westminster ($4,162)
11. UBC Press, Vancouver ($13,000)

To learn more about Creative BC’s Market Expansion Fund, visit: www.creativebc.com/programs/development-funding/market-expansion-fund#market-expansion-fund-details

Quotes:
Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport “Congratulations to the recipients! We know B.C’s publishers have had many challenges over the last few years and we know this funding will provide much needed support so they can reach larger markets and continue to grow B.C.-made content at home and beyond”.

Bob D’Eith, Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film “Books and magazines are an important means of expression, a way to share knowledge, experiences, stories and ideas. Publishers ensure that these creative expressions are enjoyed by the widest audience possible. The publisher recipients of this funding from Creative BC will be able to use these funds to ensure that their books and magazines sales expand into new markets in the world. That is really exciting.”

Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC “Domestic and international market access is essential for book and magazine publishers who are dependent on global interest to sustain and grow their businesses. Creative BC is proud to support these 11 publishers who will showcase British Columbian creators to the world and bring business back home to our province.”

Matea Kulić, Executive Director, Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia (Books BC) “The Association of Book Publishers of BC (Books BC) is grateful to the Province and Creative BC for continuing to work with publishers to identify domestic and overseas opportunities for export development of B.C.-published books. As we now know, in-person activities such as book fairs, conferences, and sales events were disproportionately affected by pandemic restrictions, and we are pleased to see these 11 companies receive the boost needed to attend these events and showcase their lists in Canada and abroad.”

Yeíl S’aghi Teddy Anderson, Medicine Wheel Publishing, Market Expansion Fund Recipient 
“Without the support and initiatives of Creative BC, our Indigenous titles would not have the impact they do. It is support like this that makes all the difference to us as a publisher.”

Media Contact:
Lisa Escudero
Creative BC
media@creativebc.com
604-730-2235

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About Creative BC Creative BC is an independent society created and supported by the Province to sustain and help grow British Columbia’s creative industries: motion picture, interactive and digital media, music and sound recording, and magazine and book publishing. The society delivers a wide range of programs and services with a mandate to expand B.C.’s creative economy. These activities include: administration of the provincial government’s motion picture tax credit programs; delivery of program funding and export marketing support for the sector; and provincial film commission services. Combined, these activities serve to attract inward investment and market B.C. as a partner and destination of choice for domestic and international content creation. The society acts as an industry catalyst and ambassador to help B.C.’s creative sector reach its economic, social, environmental and creative potential both at home, and globally. Website: www.creativebc.com