Sixteen publishers receive foreign and domestic export support from Creative BC

Vancouver, B.C. (March 6, 2025) – Today, Creative BC is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024/25 Market Expansion Fund (the Fund). This Fund provides financial support for B.C. publishers to attend select fairs, conferences, and events to promote their publishing lists. B.C.’s publishers are dependent on export marketing to sustain and grow their businesses.  

Applicants to the Fund can receive financial assistance to attend qualifying markets in person. This year’s recipients participated in five domestic markets across Canada, including the BANFF World Media Festival, Word Vancouver, Ontario Library Association Superconference, and 21 international markets, such as the Frankfurt Book Fair, Kidscreen, and the London Book Fair. These market opportunities help publishers expand their business through foreign and subsidiary rights sales while supporting the development of digital marketing materials and campaigns. 

The following 16 companies have been granted market expansion support: 

1. Anvil Press, Vancouver, $5,175  
2. Arsenal Pulp Press Ltd., Vancouver, $6,750 
3. Figure 1 Publishing Inc., Vancouver, $4,638 
4. Greystone Books, Vancouver, $10,000 
5. Hancock House Publishers, Surrey, $2,250 
6. Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, $7,500 
7. Medicine Wheel Education, Victoria, $7,215 
8. Orca Book Publishers, Victoria, $10,000 
9. Rocky Mountain Books, Victoria, $5,622  
10. Simply Read Books Inc., Vancouver, $8,768 
11. Theytus Books Ltd., Penticton, $2,250 
12. Thornapple Press, Victoria $3,338 
13. Tidewater Press, New Westminster, $1,500 
14. Touchwood Editions Ltd., Victoria, $5,157 
15. Tradewind Books, Vancouver, $2,250 
16. University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver, $9,441

View a list of the recipients by program online here.    

To learn more about the Market Expansion Fund, visit Creative BC’s website: www.creativebc.com/market-expansion-fund     

QUOTES 

Honourable Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
“Books capture unique stories and histories, promote literacy and education, and celebrate diverse cultural perspectives. B.C. has some of the best book publishers and authors in the world. It’s more important than ever that we support B.C. publishers so they can find new markets, expand their customer base, and showcase our B.C. talent, across Canada and around the world. In times of uncertainty, we need to stand together, and I’m proud of our authors and publishers for their efforts to up their game and build new markets for B.C.”

Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC 
“Creative BC is proud to support B.C. book publishers in expanding their reach to both domestic and international markets. Through this fund, publishers receive financial support to attend key fairs, conferences, and events, helping them promote their titles and strengthen industry connections. International sales and exports play a vital role in sustaining and growing B.C.’s publishing industry, ensuring its continued success on the global stage.” 

Matea Kulić, Executive Director, Books BC
“On behalf of The Association of Book Publishers of BC (Books BC), we’d like to thank the Province and Creative BC for their support of B.C. publishers through the Market Expansion Fund. At a time when the Canadian/U.S. trade relationship is under strain, publishers need additional support to strengthen exposure in out-of-province domestic markets as well as diversify their export initiatives overseas. This program helps bring the voices of Canadian authors and the work of Canadian publishers to audiences within Canada and beyond.”  

Lynn Duncan, Tidewater Press, Program Recipient
“Funding support from Creative BC has allowed us to access new markets with tangible benefits in terms of new bookseller relationships, enhanced media coverage, and increased book sales, including university course adoption.”  

MEDIA CONTACT
Creative BC
Lisa Escudero
media@creativebc.com
+1 604-730-2235 

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About Creative BC
Creative BC is an independent non-profit 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