Translation Projects NOFO

FY24

Literature Fellowships:
Translation Projects
GUIDELINES
CFDA No. 45.024
OMB No. 3135-0112 Expires TBD

Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects FY24 Guidelines

Program Description
Through fellowships to published translators, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
supports projects for the translation of specific works of prose, poetry, or drama from other
languages into English. The work to be translated should be of interest for its literary excellence
and merit. We encourage translations of writers and of work that are not well represented in
English, as well as work that has not previously been translated into English. The NEA is
committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and fostering mutual support for the diverse beliefs
and values of all individuals and groups.
Competition for fellowships is rigorous. Potential applicants should consider carefully whether
their work will be competitive at the national level.

We Do Not Fund
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Individuals who previously have received three or more Literature Fellowships (in prose
or poetry) or Translation Fellowships from the NEA.
Individuals who have received any Creative Writing Literature Fellowship (in prose or
poetry) from the NEA since January 1, 2018 or any Translation Fellowship from the NEA
since January 1, 2020.
Applicants applying with the same project for more than three consecutive years.
Scholarly writing. (Writers who are engaged in scholarly work may wish to contact the
National Endowment for the Humanities.)
Work toward academic degrees.

Deadline and Announcement Dates
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, the federal government’s
online application system. The Grants.gov system must receive your validated and accepted
application no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on January 12, 2023. Late applications are
not accepted.
Applicants will receive notification of awards and rejections no sooner than December 2023.
Our support for a project may begin any time between January 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025,
and extend for up to two years.

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Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects FY24 Guidelines

Application Calendar
Category

Application Deadline

Earliest
Announcement of
Grant Award or
Rejection

Translation Projects

January 12, 2023

December 2023

Earliest Beginning
Date for NEA Period
of Performance
January 1, 2024

Applicants are required to use Grants.gov. See "How to Apply" for further information.
Late applications will not be accepted.
In the event of an emergency (e.g., a hurricane or a SAM, Grants.gov, or NEA systems
technological failure), the National Endowment for the Arts Chair may adjust application
deadlines for affected applicants. If a deadline is extended for any reason, an announcement
will be posted on our website.
Do not seek information on the status of your application before the announcement date that
is listed above.
If you have questions:
Email: LitFellowships@arts.gov
Call: 202-682-5034

Individuals who need assistance accessing this document may contact the NEA’s Office for
Accessibility at 202-682-5532 or the Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 /
CivilRights@arts.gov.

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Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects FY24 Guidelines

Award Information
Grant Amount
Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $25,000. Award amounts are determined by the National
Endowment for the Arts.

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Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects FY24 Guidelines

Eligibility
Individual translators who meet the publication requirements listed below are eligible to apply.
Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States. See How to Apply for
the documentation that is required to demonstrate eligibility. Ineligible applications will be
rejected without panel review.
An individual may submit only one application for FY 2024 Literature Fellowships funding. You
may not apply for both a Translation Project at this deadline (January 12, 2023) and a Literature
Fellowship in Prose at the 2023 deadline. See Literature Fellowships for more information.
You may not apply:
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If you have received three or more Fellowships (in poetry, prose, or for translation) from
the NEA.
If you have received any NEA Creative Writing Literature Fellowship (in prose or poetry)
on or after January 1, 2018 or any NEA Translation Fellowship on or after January 1,
2020.
With the same project for more than three consecutive years.

Previous grantees must have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due date(s) for
all NEA award(s) previously received.
You are eligible to apply if you, alone or in collaboration, have:
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Published a total of at least 20 pages of translations of creative literature into English in
curated digital or print formats such as literary magazines, anthologies, or books; or
Published a translation into English of a novel or a volume of at least 20 pages of fiction,
poetry, drama, or belles-lettres (creative nonfiction, criticism, and essays); or
Had published, presented, or produced by a professional theater company at least one
full-length play that you translated into English.

This publication or production must have taken place between January 1, 2008, and January
12, 2023. To qualify, work must have been originally published with an eligible publisher
between these dates, not only reprinted or reissued in another format during this period.
Eligible publishers have a competitive selection process and offer some service or services to
their writers, such as editing and proofreading; formatting and design; and/or promotion,
marketing, and distribution. Student-led publications and publications that primarily print work
by persons who are affiliated with a particular academic institution are not eligible.
You may use digital, audio, or online publications to establish eligibility, provided that such
publications have competitive selection processes and offer professional editing. If the online
publication or website no longer exists, you must provide, upon request, sufficient evidence
that your work once appeared online. If sufficient evidence cannot be provided, the online
publication cannot be used to establish your eligibility.
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Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects FY24 Guidelines
The following content may not be used to establish eligibility:
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Pre-publication material, such as galleys, proofs, and advance reader's copies.
Work that has appeared in a publication for which you are the editor, publisher, or staff.
Scholarly writing.
Instructional writing.
News reporting.
Book reviews.
Editorials/letters to the editor.
Interviews.

Eligibility is determined by the NEA based on your complete and properly submitted
documentation. Your application may not be eligible for panel review if incorrect or insufficient
information is provided. This includes, but is not limited to: missing or blank attachments;
manuscripts that are not typescript; and publications in the "Summary of Applicant
Publications/Productions" (Attachment 3) that cannot be verified. Our decision on eligibility
cannot be appealed and is final. For more information, see "How to Apply"

Copyright Information
You must include one of the following with your application:
• Written permission from the copyright holder that grants you the right to translate the
work specified in your application. Note: We do not require that you secure the right to
publish; or
• Written proof that the copyright holder is not willing to provide the right to translate
the work specified in the application but does not object to the translation AND a copy
of the NEA’s “Acknowledgement of Translation” form (available here LINK) signed by the
copyright holder or their authorized representative; or
• If the work resides in the public domain, you should state that and provide a thorough
justification in Attachment 4. The justification must include information about how and
why the project has lapsed into the public domain. Mere statements, including but not
limited to statements that the work is in the public domain because no rights holders
exist or all rights holders are deceased, will not be sufficient for these purposes.
The NEA may evaluate the information you provide for accuracy or consistency with U.S. law
and treaty obligations at its discretion. Remember that simply stating the availability of
permissions is not the equivalent of securing permission from the rights holder or their
authorized representative to translate the work specified in your application.
In cases where a work’s public domain status is ambiguous, the NEA will evaluate, in its
discretion, all pertinent information available to determine whether the work’s public domain
status has been sufficiently established for purposes of a particular application. Such a
determination is the NEA’s alone and is not sufficient in any way to support a claim by the
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Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects FY24 Guidelines
applicant or any third party that a work is conclusively a public domain work under the laws and
treaties of the United States or any foreign jurisdiction.
The NEA may, at its discretion, evaluate information provided under this section or in follow-up
questions about the copyright status of this inquiry to inform any holistic assessment of artistic
excellence and artistic merit.
Your application may not be eligible if incorrect or insufficient information is provided in
Attachment 4 of your application. See "How to Apply" for details.
For further information, consult the U.S. Department of State’s website which links to a list of
Treaties in Force.
The National Endowment for the Arts reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine
whether the permissions provided are satisfactory to it.
The National Endowment for the Arts makes no representations as to who may own
copyrights, if any, arising from any translations it funds under this program.

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Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects FY24 Guidelines

How to Apply
Application Deadline: January 12, 2023
Submit your application no later than January 2, 2023, to give yourself ample time to resolve
any problems that you might encounter. You take a significant risk by waiting until the day of
the deadline to submit. Late applications will not be accepted.
These application guidelines provide all of the information you will need to submit an
application. Please read these instructions in their entirety before you begin the application
process. We suggest you keep these instructions open while you complete your application, as
they contain links to information you will need.
The Grants.gov system must receive your validated application no later than 11:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time, on January 12, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.
Electronic application through Grants.gov is mandatory. The Grants.gov Contact Center is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for technical support at 800-518-4726 or
support@grants.gov.
If you are unable to submit your application electronically, you may request a waiver. A waiver
will be granted for the following reasons:
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Internet access is not available within a 30-mile radius of your address.
Disability prevents you from submitting your application electronically.

Your waiver request must be in writing and must be received at the NEA at least three weeks
before the application deadline. Click here for more information on waivers.
WAIVER POP UP BOX TEXT:
Requesting a waiver: Translation Projects
If you are unable to submit your application electronically, you may request a waiver. A waiver
will be granted for the following reasons:
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Internet access is not available within a 30-mile radius of your address.
Disability prevents you from submitting your application electronically.

Contact the Literary Arts staff at 202-682-5034 or by email at litfellowships@arts.gov for more
information on how to submit your waiver request. Waiver requests must be in writing and
received at least three weeks before the application deadline, or not later than 5:30 p.m.,
Eastern Time on December 22, 2022.
Individuals who need assistance accessing this document may contact the Office of Accessibility
at Accessibility@arts.gov or call 202-682-5532 or the Office of Civil Rights at
CivilRights@arts.gov or 202-682-5454
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Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects FY24 Guidelines

To Apply:
Step 1: Register with Login.gov and Grants.gov
Step 2: Go to the grant opportunity package
Step 3: Follow the application instructions
Step 4: Submit your electronic application

Step 1: Register with Login.gov and Grants.gov
Before submitting an application to the NEA, you must register or renew your registration with
Login.gov and Grants.gov. It is your responsibility to create and maintain this registration.
Registration is a one-time process, which can take a day or more to complete. To allow time to
resolve any issues that may arise, we strongly advise that you not wait until the day of the
application deadline to register. You will not be able to submit your application if you fail to
successfully register with Login.gov and Grants.gov.
New Applicants:
1. Register with Login.gov
o Go to Create an account to set up your Login.gov account. This account will allow
you to access many government websites, including Grants.gov.
o If you already have a Login.gov account, you do not need to set up a new
account, you may use your existing account.
2. Register with Grants.gov
o Click: Register and click the red button that says “Get Registered Now” at the
bottom of the screen.
o Next, fill out the contact information, choose a Username and Password, and
then click “Continue” at the bottom of the screen.
o Grants.gov will email you a temporary code to verify your email address. Enter
this code where instructed on the Registration page
o Under the “How would you like to proceed?” heading, be sure to select the Add
Individual Applicant Profile option to apply for funding opportunities on your
own behalf. See here for more information on adding a profile.
3. Link your Login.gov and Grants.gov accounts
o Click the “Login” button in Grants.gov, you will be prompted to link accounts,
this is a one-time action.
o After linking accounts, you will always use the Login.gov username and password
to sign in to Grants.gov.
Returning Applicants
1. If you have not already created a Login.gov account, go to Create an account
2. Link your Login.gov and Grants.gov accounts
o Click the “Login” button in Grants.gov, you will be prompted to link accounts,
this is a one-time action.
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Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects FY24 Guidelines
o After linking accounts, you will always use the Login.gov username and password
to sign in to Grants.gov.
The NEA does not have access to your Login.gov or Grants.gov accounts. If you have any
questions about or need assistance with these sites contact them directly:
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•

Login.gov Help: Consult the information posted in their Help Center, or use their online
form to submit a question.
Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, email support@grants.gov, or consult
the information posted on the Grants.gov website at Support. The Grants.gov Contact
Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Maintain documentation such as
screenshots or emails (with dates) of your efforts to register before the deadline.

Step 2: Go to the Grant Opportunity Package
Access the application package on Grants.gov by clicking on the link below:
GO TO GRANT OPPORTUNITY PACKAGE
[Funding Opportunity Number 2023NEA03LFTP]
1. Clicking the link above will take you directly to the pre-populated application package in
Grants.gov.
2. The Grants.gov “View Grant Opportunity” screen will open, click the red “Apply” button.
3. You will be prompted to enter your Login.gov Username and Password.
4. After logging in, to create a Workspace application:
a. Fill in the Application Filing Name field with your legal name, then
b. Click the Create Workspace button.
5. Upon a successful creation, you will be directed to the Manage Workspace page, where
you can begin working on the application.
6. You can access each required form online by clicking “Webform” OR you can download
the forms to your computer by clicking “Download”.
If you decide to download the forms, you will first need to verify your PDF software. To
download the forms, you must have a version of Adobe Reader that is supported by
Grants.gov installed on your computer. Go to "Adobe Software Tip Sheet" to see the
compatible versions of Adobe Reader or to download and install Adobe Reader. See
important information about versions of Adobe Reader DC here.
The required forms are:
o Application for Federal Domestic Assistance - Individual Form
o Attachments Form
7. Complete the application based on the Application Instructions (Step 3).
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Step 3: Follow the Application Instructions
Prepare your application materials for Grants.gov. Detailed instructions can be found here: LINK
TO PDF

Step 4: Submit Your Application to Grants.gov
Electronically submit the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance– Individual Form and
required attachments through Grants.gov.
1. Check the size of your electronic application. The total size should not exceed 10 MB.
2. To begin the submission process, log on to Grants.gov and go to the Forms tab on the
Manage Workspace page. Click the “Sign and Submit” button under the Forms tab.
Be certain that you are satisfied with your application before you click the “Sign and
Submit” button. No revisions to your application are possible through Grants.gov once
it is submitted. After submission, the only way to update items in your application is to
create a new application by repeating steps 2-4. The NEA will only review your most
recently submitted application.
3. Once you complete and submit your application, you will see a confirmation screen
explaining that your submission is being processed. Take a screenshot of this
confirmation screen and save it for your records. Retain the Grants.gov Tracking
Number that you receive in the application submission confirmation screen.
4. Verify that your application was validated by the Grants.gov system. Go to Track My
Application to confirm the validation and track the progress of your application
submission through Grants.gov. Do not wait until the day of the deadline to verify your
validated submission in case you encounter any difficulties. We will not accept late
applications.
Note: Acceptance and validation by Grants.gov does not imply that the applicant has uploaded
the proper attachments. Before submitting your application, double check that you have
attached everything correctly.
For additional help on how to use Grants.gov, see the Grants.gov website at Support. You can
also email the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov or call them at 800-518-4726,
24 hours a day, and 7 days a week.

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Application Review
Review Criteria
In reviewing applications for Translation Projects, advisory panelists consider the:
Artistic excellence of the proposed project, which includes the:
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Quality of the English sample translation.
Quality of the sample work to be translated.

Panelists also consider the:
Artistic merit of the proposed project, which includes the:
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Importance of the proposed project.
Extent to which the language, the author, and the specific work are inadequately
represented in English translation.
Applicant’s ability to carry out the proposed project as demonstrated by:
o Proficiency in the language to be translated and familiarity with the culture.
o Knowledge of and/or cooperation with the author(s) or copyright holders of the
work to be translated.
Significance of the author(s) and/or the original work(s).
For collaborative projects, the ability of the collaborator(s) to work together as
exemplified by the sample manuscript that has been submitted.

What Happens to Your Application
Applications are evaluated according to the review criteria above.
After processing by our staff to determine eligibility and completeness, applications are
reviewed, in closed session, by advisory panelists in the field of literary translation. Each panel
comprises a diverse group of translation experts and at least one knowledgeable layperson.
Panel membership rotates regularly. Panel recommendations are forwarded to the National
Council on the Arts, which then makes recommendations to the Chair of the National
Endowment for the Arts. The Chair reviews the Council’s recommendations and makes the final
decision on all grant awards. Applicants are then notified of funding decisions.

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Award Administration
Award Notices
Announcements are expected by December 2023.

General Terms & Conditions
Federal and agency requirements that relate to grants awarded by the National Endowment for
the Arts are highlighted in our General Terms & Conditions. Included is information on reporting
requirements and lobbying prohibitions.

Copyright Information
In awarding these fellowships, National Endowment for the Arts makes no representations as to
who may own copyrights, if any, arising from translations funded under this program.

Banking Information & Tax Liability
In order to receive fellowship grant funds, grantees must provide the NEA with banking
information for a United States bank only.
The Internal Revenue Code provides that the full amount of a fellowship grant is taxable to its
recipient. If you have any questions about your own income tax liability, you should contact the
Internal Revenue Service or your tax counsel.

Legal Requirements
NOTE: This list highlights some of the significant legal requirements that may apply to a
applicant or grantee, however, it is not exhaustive. More information regarding these and
other legal requirements may be found in the General Terms & Conditions which sets forth
the National Policy and Other Legal Requirements, Statutes, and Regulations that Govern
Your Award. There may be other applicable legal requirements that are not listed here.
•

Compliance with the federal requirements that are outlined in the Assurance of
Compliance below.

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Debarment and Suspension procedures. The applicant must comply with requirements
set forth in Subpart C of 2 CFR 180, as adopted by the National Endowment for the Arts
in 2 CFR Part 3254. Failure to comply may result in the debarment or suspension of the
grantee and the National Endowment for the Arts suspending, terminating and/or
recovering funds.

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Federal Debt Status (OMB Circular A-129). Processing of applications will be suspended
when applicants are delinquent on federal tax or non-tax debts, including judgment
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Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects FY24 Guidelines
liens against property for a debt to the federal government. New awards will not be
made if an applicant is still in debt status as of September 1.
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Labor Standards (29 CFR Part 505). If a grant is awarded, the grantee must comply with
the standards set out in Labor Standards on Projects or Productions Assisted by Grants
from the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities.

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The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (41 U.S.C. 8101 et seq. and 2 CFR Part 3256). The
grantee is required to publish a statement regarding its drug-free workplace program as
well as comply with other requirements.

Assurance of Compliance
By signing and submitting its application form on Grants.gov, the Applicant certifies that it is
in compliance with the statutes outlined below and all related National Endowment for the
Arts regulations and will maintain records and submit the reports that are necessary to
determine compliance.
We may conduct a review to ensure compliance with these statutes. If the NEA determines that
a grantee has failed to comply with these statutes, it may suspend or terminate the award,
and/or recover funds. This assurance is subject to judicial enforcement.
The Applicant certifies that it does not discriminate:
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On the grounds of race, color, or national origin, in accordance with Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), implemented by the
National Endowment for the Arts at 45 CFR 1110.

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Solely on the grounds of disability, in accordance with Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), implemented by the National
Endowment for the Arts at 45 CFR 1151, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 ("ADA"), as amended, (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).

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On the basis of age, in accordance with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42
U.S.C. 6101 et seq.) implemented by the National Endowment for the Arts at 45 CFR
1156.

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On the basis of sex, in any education program or activity, in accordance with Title IX
of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).

Applicant will inform the public that persons who believe they have been discriminated against
on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, or age may file a complaint with the
Director of Civil Rights at the National Endowment for the Arts.
Applicant will forward all complaints for investigation and any finding issued by a Federal or
state court or by a Federal or state administrative agency to:
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Director, Office of Civil Rights
National Endowment for the Arts
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20506
Applicant shall maintain records of its compliance and submission for three (3) years. The
Applicant will compile, maintain and permit access to records as required by applicable
regulations, guidelines or other directives.
The Applicant must also certify that it will obtain assurances of compliance from all
subrecipients and will require all subrecipients of National Endowment for the Arts funds to
comply with these requirements.
The United States has the right to seek judicial or administrative enforcement of this assurance.
For further information and copies of the nondiscrimination regulations identified above,
contact the Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 or civilrights@arts.gov. For inquiries about
limited English proficiency, go to http://www.lep.gov, the FOIA Reading Room, or contact the
Office of Civil Rights at civilrights@arts.gov or 202-682-5454.

Privacy Act
The following notice is furnished in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a.
This information is solicited under the authority of the National Foundation on the Arts and the
Humanities Act, 20 U.S.C. 951 et seq. and is primarily used for the purpose of application
review. Personal data, such as home address or personal cell phone number may not be
released, either in entirety or in part, as exempt from disclosure under FOIA exemption (b)(6).
Failure to provide the requested information could result in rejection of your application.

Standards for Service
The National Endowment for the arts has set the following standards for serving applicants. We
pledge to:
• Treat you with courtesy and efficiency.
•

Respond to inquiries and correspondence promptly.

•

Provide clear and accurate information about our policies and procedures.

•

Provide timely information about funding opportunities and make guidelines available
promptly.

•

Promptly acknowledge the receipt of your application.

•

Ensure that all eligible applications are reviewed thoughtfully and fairly.
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We welcome your comments on how we are meeting these standards. Email:
webmgr@arts.gov, attention: Standards for Service.
For questions about these guidelines or your application contact the Literary Arts staff at 202682-5034 or LitFellowships@arts.gov.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at an average of 12
hours per response. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. We welcome any suggestions that you might have on improving the
guidelines and making them as easy to use as possible. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for
reducing this burden, to: webmgr@arts.gov, attention: Reporting Burden. Note: Applicants are
not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid U.S.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
OMB No. 3135-0112 Expires TBD

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Need Help?
We have fielded many questions over the years and trust that we can help you troubleshoot
problems you encounter. We are at your service.
Browse the answers below and in the FAQ before you contact our staff.
You should also determine if your question is best addressed to the National Endowment for
the Arts, Login.gov, or Grants.gov. Login.gov and Grants.gov are government-wide portals; they
are separate entities from the National Endowment for the Arts. Though we include some tips
here on navigating Login.gov and Grants.gov, technical questions about registration and
uploading your application should be directed to Login.gov or Grants.gov.
Contact Login.gov for help with:
•
•

Registration problems with Login.gov
Login or username/password issues

Login.gov Help: Consult the information posted in their Help Center, or use their online form to
submit a question.
Contact Grants.gov for help with:
•
•
•
•

•

Registration problems with Grants.gov
Your registration status
Verifying and/or updating your registration information
Technology-related problems including:
o Web browser issues
o Questions about Workspace, webforms, or Adobe Reader
Problems submitting your application through Grants.gov

The Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-5184726 or support@grants.gov. The website is www.grants.gov.
Contact the National Endowment for the Arts for help with:
•
•
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Eligibility questions
Specific components of your application
The fellowship guidelines

If, after looking over our guidelines and the answers in this section, you'd still like to speak to a
staff member, call our Literature Fellowships Hotline at 202-682-5034 or email us
at LitFellowships@arts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions
The following are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Translation
Projects.
1. Will you accept joint applications?
No. Translation fellowships are individual grants. However, we recognize that many translators
work collaboratively. You may use a translation project grant to work on a collaborative project,
if your application so indicates. If you apply to work on a collaborative project, you must submit
a statement that outlines the role(s) of the collaborator(s) and the recognition that he/she/they
will receive for the project. The manuscript sample must be by the collaborative team.
The collaborator(s) are not required to meet the eligibility requirements, as they are not
applicants for funding.
Only works by the applicant and/or the collaborative team may be used to establish eligibility.
Works translated independently by the applicant’s collaborator(s) may not be used to establish
eligibility.
2. Will the NEA fund translations into languages other than English?
No. Projects must be for translations of literary material from any language into English only.
3. Can book galleys count toward meeting the eligibility requirements?
No. In order to apply, you must meet the eligibility requirements by the deadline date. Reader's
advance copies, galleys, uncorrected proofs, and commitments for future publication or
production do not fulfill the requirements. No exceptions are made to the eligibility
requirements.
4. If the publisher verifies that the English-language rights are available, is that sufficient
approval to meet copyright requirements?
No. Simply stating the availability of English-language rights to a work does not demonstrate
that you have been granted permission to translate a work. Although we do not require
applicants to secure publishing rights, we will not fund work that is not authorized by the rights
holder(s) and therefore would not have a chance of eventual publication. You must
demonstrate, in writing, that the author/rights holder(s) will allow you to undertake a
translation of the work specified in your application.
If the copyright holder does not want to or is unable to provide a right to translate, the NEA
may accept an alternative form of rights via the National Endowment for the Arts’ own
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Acknowledgement of Translation form. The form must be accompanied by written evidence
that the publisher is not otherwise willing to provide rights. We will not accept any alternative
form of documentation, and we will not accept any modifications to or annotations to the form.
If you propose to translate an anthology, appropriate permission must be secured from the
rights holder(s) of each work that would appear in the proposed translation.
If a work is in the public domain, you do not have to secure permission to translate it. However,
you must provide a statement that the project is in the public domain along with an accurate
and thorough justification of your statement. The agency evaluates this justification, along with
other pertinent information, and determines whether or not it is sufficient in its sole discretion.
You must have secured any rights necessary by the time of application. If written permission
from the copyright holder is in a foreign language, you must provide an English translation. The
NEA may contact you for further documentation of rights clearance, or of the
credentials/accuracy of any translation of a legal document you have provided at any time.
5. Do scholarly articles count toward establishing eligibility?
No. Eligibility must be established through translations of creative writing, such as fiction,
poetry, drama, or belles-lettres (creative nonfiction, criticism, and essays). Articles written in
English that contain translated passages do not count toward eligibility.
6. Do blogs count as eligible publications?
In general, no; they are considered self-publication. However, curated blogs exist that may be
eligible publication sources. Contact the Literary Arts staff for a specific determination of
eligibility.
7. May I submit a letter of recommendation?
No. In previous years, we allowed students to submit letters of recommendation; such letters
are no longer accepted. If a letter is included with an application, it will not be reviewed.
8. For the application package, how do I determine my Congressional District? What if I'm an
American living abroad?
Visit the House of Representatives website at www.house.gov and use the "Find Your
Representative" tool. If the address on your application is outside the United States, enter 00000 for your Congressional District.
9. My postal code is in red after I type it on the application package. Does this mean there's a
problem?
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Yes. The form requires your Zip+4. If you do not know your full zip code, you may look it up at
www.usps.com/zip4/.
10. Do I have to submit my application in English?
Yes, all application material must be submitted in English with only one exception for those
portions of the original work which your sample translation renders.
11. May I submit translations of my own writing to establish eligibility?
Yes, you may include in your Summary of Applicant Publications/Productions a list of
translations (into English) of your own writing (poetry, prose, drama).
12. I'm self-published. Am I eligible for a fellowship?
For determining eligibility, we do not accept any publication by presses that publish work
without competitive selection or professional editing. If you feel your publication falls outside
of these parameters, call the Literature Fellowships Hotline for guidance.
13. Should I list everything I've published to show I'm eligible just in case there's a question?
No. If you can establish your eligibility with one book, just list that book. If you're unsure if the
book meets our eligibility requirements, list journal publications as well, but only as many as
you need to establish your eligibility. Our panelists will not see your publications.
14. I'm on faculty at a university. May the fellowship go directly to my university so that I may
buy time off from teaching to complete my project?
No. Fellowships are individual awards; all funds are dispersed only to the fellow. However, once
our fellows receive funds, it is up to them how they wish to spend it (as long as it relates to
their translation project). A fellow could pay his/her university directly in order to receive time
off.
15. What if my project has begun before the allowable start date?
If this is the case, contact the NEA’s Literary Arts staff for guidance before applying. Most often
this is not a problem, as long as the bulk of the work on the project occurs during the period of
performance.
16. Must my project be completed by the end of the period of performance?

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Yes. However, in the event of unforeseen delays, grantees may request a new project end date
by writing to our Grants Management Office at least 30 days before the end of an award.
Extension requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and approval is not guaranteed.
17. Do you accept translations of anthologies?
Yes. However, permission to translate the works included in the anthology must be obtained
from each work’s respective copyright holder before the application is submitted.
If you have questions about your application, contact the Literary Arts staff at 202-682-5034 or
email LitFellowships@arts.gov.

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Agency Contacts
If you have questions about your application, contact the Literary Arts staff at 202-682-5034 or
LitFellowships@arts.gov.

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