Publishers Assistance Fund
Introduction The Nova Scotia Publishers Assistance Fund invests in provincially-based publishers to increase the sustainability, export capacity and marketplace growth of the publishing sector in Nova Scotia.
Offered by Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Amount
No fixed amount
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
To be eligible to apply to the program an applicant must:
- have been a legally registered company or society with head office and general operations based in Nova
Scotia, operating for at least two years;
- derive more than 50% of their total sales revenues from book sales, with the publication of original titles
as the focus of their business;
- publish books under the publisher’s own imprint, in printed or other form, and distribute those titles
through regular bookselling channels;
- maintain full control over editorial process, and have editorial independence from any other company;
- have at least 75% of the titles produced by authors other than principals in the company or related
companies;
- enter into contractual agreements with authors or copyright holders, issue clear royalty statements on
a regular basis and fulfill all contractual obligations and agreed terms to writers, illustrators, translators, artists and other services and licensors;
- be managed and financially controlled by Nova Scotia residents (who own at least 75% of the company);
- demonstrate fiscal viability through provision of audited financial statements;
- have annual net book sales revenue of at least $20,000 (based on most recent fiscal year); and
- have at least 4 eligible titles in print, have published a minimum of two first edition titles per year for the
past 2 years, and show an ongoing commitment to publishing original titles.
About the funding
Funding Structure Funding allocation is determined in relation to two measurable components:
Base Component allocated using eligible sales revenue calculated from book/audiobook/e-book
sales of approved titles released during the applicant’s the most recently completed fiscal year (~65% of funding);
Show all funding details
There are caps on the maximum funding level available based on the applicant’s eligible sales revenue. Maximum funding available through the base funding component is structured as follows:
Eligible Sales Revenue Total Funding Available
Over $1,500,000 $150,000 $500,001- $1,500,000 $100,000 $150,001- $500,000 $80,000 $75,000- $150,000 $60,000 $20,000- $75,000 $30,000 The Base Component allocation will not exceed 33% of eligible revenues.
- Evaluation Component based on an assessment of the company’s publishing program (~35% of
funding) evaluated in relation to the categories presented in the application. See Appendix A for list of categories.
The Evaluation Component is based on points awarded for each criterion (as indicated on the Application Form) per the following scale:
0 Not Considered; 1 Poor; 2 Fair; 3 Good; 4 Very Good; and 5 Excellent.
An applicant will not be eligible for funding under the Publishers Assistance Fund if fewer than twenty-five (25) assessment points out of the maximum one hundred points (100) of the Evaluation Component are awarded.
Total Funding Allocation (BASE + EVALUATION) will not exceed 50% of the applicant’s eligible sales revenue.
Eligible Sales Revenue Eligible sales revenue is based upon actual sales of eligible titles over the past year/. For the purposes of this program the submitted revenue year may be based on either of the following:
- the applicant’s most recently completed fiscal year as of March 31; or
- the Province’s fiscal year beginning April 1 and ending March 31
Eligible revenue are defined as the total of the following:
- the revenues for eligible titles (see below) sold net of trade discounts for returns and allowances; and
- revenues from the sale of rights and permissions for eligible titles.
Grants, contributions and donations are not considered eligible sales revenue under this program and should be excluded from the calculation.
Funding allocated through this program specifically supports the following expense categories:
- Editorial;
- Printing & Design;
- Author Development;
- Author Royalties;
- Marketing, Promotion & Advertising;
- Capacity Building; and • Packaging & Shipping Funding allocated through the Publishers Assistance Fund must be directed to the above eligible expense categories and reflected in the financial information submitted as part of the applicant’s final reporting requirement.
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund Stream I | Grant | Base Incentive of 26 per cent of all Eligible Nova Scotia Costs, plus 2 percentage points (rural/non-metropolitan location), up to 10 percentage points (Distant Location), 1 percentage point (shoots of more than 30 days) and 1.5 + 1.5 percentage points (Nova Scotia Content Incentive) | Open |
| Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund Stream II | Grant | Base Incentive of 25 per cent of all Eligible Nova Scotia Costs, plus 2 percentage points for rural/non-metropolitan shoots, up to 10 percentage points for Distant Location shoots, 1 percentage point for shoots of more than 30 days, and up to 1.5 + 1.5 percentage points Nova Scotia content incentives | Open |
| Access Support Fund | Grant | No fixed amount | Open |
| Circulation and Touring of Arts Abroad | Grant | Up to $200,000 per application (a maximum of 50% of total eligible costs) | Open |
