Funding is also available for publishers to commission authors, illustrators, photographers and designers; employ creative editors; and for some marketing initiatives.
Welsh-language grants available
Here are details of the grants available for Welsh-language publishing.
Individual Book Grants
These are grants to help publishers produce books which may be of a more specialist nature and limited in their appeal, including both fiction and non-fiction, and literary works, for adults and children. Smaller publishers may also use this grant to publish more popular books.
Programme Grants
These are block grants, available to the main publishers, which are applied for every five years, to support varied, popular publishing programmes consisting of at least 8 titles (for children or adults). A publisher must have robust administration and a significant amount of experience and have published books under the Individual Book Grants Scheme before being eligible to apply to become a Programme Grant Publisher. The next funding round will be for the 2028–33 funding period and the application process for that round will take place during 2026–27.
Grants for Authors
Publishers apply for these grants to enable them to offer competitive commissions and payments to authors for works of wide appeal, for adults and children. Two grants are available – Payments to Authors Scheme A and Payments to Authors Scheme B. These grants are not awarded directly to authors.
Grants for Illustrators and Photographers
Publishers apply for the Visual Grant to enable them to offer commissions and competitive payments to illustrators, designers and photographers to create original work for illustrated books for adults and children. Two schemes are available under the Visual Grant: Scheme A and Scheme B. This grant is not awarded directly to illustrators or photographers.
Supported Posts Grant
Established publishers can apply for this grant towards the cost of employing creative editors. These grants are tendered for on the same timeline and in parallel with Programme Grants (above).
Marketing Grants
Grants for publishers to support marketing activity and increase the sales of books that are in receipt of publishing grants. Two grants are available: one for Programme Publishers and one for Individual Publishers.
Marketing Grant for Programme Publishers Guidelines and Conditions (PDF)
Marketing Grants for Individual Publishers Guidelines and Conditions (PDF)
Magazines
These grants are awarded through a tendering process every four years. This scheme aims to ensure that a wide variety of lively, high-quality Welsh-language magazines are published for children, young people and adults, containing good writing, quality journalism, reviews and discussion on a variety of topics. The next funding round will be for the 2027–31 provision and the tender process for that round will take place during 2026-27.
Digital News Service
This grant is awarded every four years to support a digital Welsh-language news service. The next funding round will be for the 2026-30 provision and the tender process for that round will take place during 2025-26.
How do I apply for a Welsh language publishing grant?
To apply for a grant, publishers need to submit an application to the independent Publishing Development Subcommittee (Welsh-language) which meets six times a year to consider the applications received and to award funding. The Subcommittee dates and deadlines are published in advance.
Subcommittee dates and deadlines
Find out how subcommittees support our work
Application forms are available from the Welsh-language Publishing Development Officer at grantiau.cymraeg@llyfrau.cymru (Opens email). Please ensure that you have read and understood the grant guidelines and conditions before submitting your application.
If you need any advice on how to apply for a publishing grant, please contact our Publishing Development Department directly, particularly if you are a new publisher starting out.
You can reach us at grantiau.cymraeg@llyfrau.cymru (Opens email) to discuss Welsh-language publications or english.grants@books.wales (Opens email) to discuss English-language publications.
Please note that grant applications directly from individuals are not eligible. If you’re an author, illustrator or designer looking for funding, you need to secure the support of a publisher who in turn will submit an application to the Books Council.
What other support is available to publishers?
Here you can find out about other forms of support available:
From time to time, we receive additional funding to run standalone projects. You can find details of new tendering and funding opportunities linked to additional projects on the New Funding Opportunities and Tenders page.