The Burgess Prize gives direct funding to publishers to assist with translation costs via the French Book Office in London.
See the 2025 Burgess Attributions
For the 2026 session, applications have been open since September 2025. The Burgess committee will meet in January 2026 and replies will be given in February 2026 at the latest.
Terms & Conditions
Publishers interested in the programme must provide:
- a completed application form (see below)
- a formal letter of application and outline of the company’s translation policy
- a catalogue and backlist
- the list of previously published French books (if applicable)
- the list of the French book(s) to be translated during the coming year
- a copy of the book(s)
- copies of the contracts with both French publisher and translator
- a proposed publicity schedule detailing how the publishers intend to publicise the author in the UK, in the run-up to, and surrounding the book’s publication.
Please note that if your application is accepted, acknowledgements must imperatively include the Institut français logo and the following sentence: “This book is supported by the Institut français (Royaume-Uni) as part of the Burgess programme”, so please consider the printing schedule before applying.
You will also be requested to provide us with a copy of the top part of a bank statement with the company name, account number and sort code and the IBAN and BIC code or an official document issued by the bank.
Contacts
French Book Office: Louise Cambau
Burgess Programme supervisor
louise.cambau@institut-francais.org.uk
020 7073 1303
Head of the Book Office: Jérôme Chevrier
jerome.chevrier@institut-francais.org.uk
0207 073 1307
The CNL is France’s leading public body supporting books and reading. It funds authors, publishers, booksellers, libraries, and literary events to promote high-quality publishing and wider reading access. Through grants, loans, and residencies, it supports literary creation, translation, publishing, and book distribution. The CNL also fosters literary engagement, public debate, international exchange, and the promotion of French language and culture in France and abroad.
The Institut français’ PAP promotes the sale of French publishing rights by supporting foreign publishers who translate and publish French works. It complements local support schemes run by French Book Offices and helps non-French-speaking audiences access contemporary French literature and thought. Since 1990, these programmes have supported nearly 26,000 French titles in 80 countries.
France Livre is a non-profit association supported by the French Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs and 350 publishers. It promotes French publishing internationally by organising collective stands at book fairs, facilitating rights sales, publishing industry reports and catalogues, and coordinating professional exchanges. It also represents English rights and supports audiovisual rights sales.
PEN Translates is an English PEN grant programme that supports UK publishers with the costs of translating contemporary literature into English.