Province Invests in Book Publishing Industry

The local book publishing industry is now better equipped to produce quality product and to participate in a competitive marketplace. The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced that government has provided $200,000 to local publishers with grants through the Publishers� Assistance Program.

�This government recognizes the fundamental role the publishing industry plays in the cultural and economic life of the province,� said Minister Hedderson. �We have worked closely with the publishing sector to design and develop the criteria for the Publishers� Assistance Program. This financial commitment to strengthening our book publishing industry and the literary sector enhances the ability of local publishers to compete in the national and international industry.�

The Publishers� Assistance Program is a component of the Cultural Economic Development Program (CEDP) with investment into the publishing sector supporting marketing, professional development and editing and design work. Six local publishers received the following grants:

Breakwater Books Limited Boulder Publications Limited Creative Book Publishing Flanker Press Jesperson Publishing Rattling Books

$41,000 $30,000 $40,000 $48,000 $20,000 $21,000

Gary Cranford of Flanker Press acknowledged the benefits of the Publishers� Assistance Program. �This program is extremely beneficial and has helped Flanker Press to maintain production and sales levels and to increase quality of production, especially in the very important cover designs,� said Mr. Cranford. �This means we can better compete against outside publishers from such places as Ontario, the United States and Great Britain.�

The CEDP supports both the arts and heritage sectors. These sectors are now seeing increased investment in the areas of professional development, operational support, conservation, presentation and interpretation of heritage resources, as well as marketing and export for cultural products.

�This investment in the book publishing industry further builds on our strategic approach to the development and support of cultural industries in Newfoundland and Labrador,� concluded Minister Hedderson.

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Media contact:
Glenda Power
Communications Manager
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 728-7762
glendapower@gov.nl.ca

2006 11 30                                 11:45 a.m.