User:Stuwhite23/British Centre for Literary Translation

The British Centre for Literary Translation is Britain's leading centre for the development, promotion and support of literary translation. It is based at the University of East Anglia (UEA) within the renowned School of Literature and Creative Writing. The BCLT was founded in 1989 by the late W G 'Max' Sebald, author of The Rings of Saturn and Austerlitz, among other works. Funding for the Centre is provided by UEA and Arts Council England.

Activities
The BCLT aims to offer support and continuing professional development to literary translators, in the UK and internationally, at all stages of their careers by providing advice, information, and opportunities for learning and skills improvement. As well, the Centre generates academic debate and stimulates public awareness of, and interest in, literary translation. These goals are accomplished through programmes such as the Summer School, scholarly articles, lectures and seminars, printed and online materials, residencies, and organization and participation in events including the London Book Fair, Jewish Book Week, and salons and reading groups. The BCLT is a member of the international RECIT network of literary translation centres and works closely with regional, national and international partners including the Translators Association and English PEN.

The Sebald Lecture
BCLT hosts the Sebald Lecture, which is given annually in London on an aspect of literature in translation. Previously known as the St Jerome Lecture, the lecture was renamed in honour of the founder of BCLT, W G Sebald (1944–2001), who died just as his remarkable voice was beginning to reach a wider public. 'Max' was a German writer who opted to live in the UK and continue writing in German. His novels and essays established him as a leading writer of the 20th century. The 2011 lecture featured novelist Ali Smith, and previous speakers have included Will Self, Seamus Heaney, Susan Sontag, Carlos Fuentes, Louis de Bernières, David Constantine and Hans Magnus Enzensberger. The BCLT, in association with The Society of Authors, also awards the annual Translation Prizes at this event.

Summer School
Each July, the BCLT offers a one-week intensive training programme to nurture the next generation of literary translators in languages where there is currently a shortage of translators. This is often for literatures currently under-represented in English but where interest from publishers is increasing. The programme pairs a noted author with an expert translator/workshop leader and a group of approximately 8 emerging literary translators. Noted authors have included Giles Foden (also a member of BCLT's Advisory Panel), Gabriele Petricek, Yoko Tawada and Juan Gabriel Vasquez.

Besides the UEA summer school, BCLT has worked with organisations such as The British Council and Penguin Group to offer similar programmes in Egypt and China, and has licensed the model to Monash University in Australia.

Residencies
Each year the BCLT offers two fellowships for translators from India the opportunity to spend two months at the University of East Anglia working on a translation project of their choice. The fellowships are funded by the Charles Wallace India Trust. The BCLT (and the Translators Association with support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation) is also involved with the Translator in Residence Programme at the Free Word Centre, London.

Staff

 * Acting Director - Valerie Henitiuk (on Leave)
 * Interim Directors - Kate Griffin and Daniel Hahn
 * Coordinator - Catherine Fuller
 * Affiliated Faculty include Amit Chaudhuri, Clive Scott, and George Szirtes.