Description
The project focuses on fulfilling an ascertained need for the professionalization of Czech literary translators’ associations. It aims to improve translators’ working conditions, initiate a discussion with publishers to develop missing standards and empower translators by providing them with key business skills needed in the culture sector. The project targets Czech translators’ associations and their members.
Project aims will be achieved thanks to the implementation of eight interconnected activities. An analysis of the current contractual conditions and translators’ fees will map the current situation. It will be followed up by an international conference focused on improving the position of translators on the market. The conference will focus on sharing best practices, experience, know-how and inspiration. The participation of foreign partners from Norway and Iceland is highly beneficial as their translators’ associations have already achieved the aims Czech translators are currently striving to accomplish.
Two copyright law workshops led by a legal professional will be held to support the professionalization of literary translators. A series of three specialized trainings will focus on negotiation, self-presentation and business-related skills. A pilot campaign designed to raise public awareness and appreciation of the translators’ profession among readers and other public will take place in the final project stage.
A working group of representatives of translators’ will develop a standardized contract template with the help of a legal professional. Based on working group outputs, two round table discussions with Czech publishers will be organized, focusing on translator fees, contractual terms, feedback, translation quality requirements, etc.
To empower the management of Czech translators’ associations, four day-long management skills trainings will take place, focusing on strategic planning, financial management, teamwork and evaluation and motivation.
Summary of project results
Literary translators as individuals pull the short end of the rope when negotiating working conditions. Branch organisations are led by enthusiasts, but lack management knowlegde. The project has succeeded in strengthening both the capacity of individuals and the leadership, as well as starting a dialogue with publishers. It was necessary to overcome some scepticism in the community and to explain that training and cooperation are essential to achieve any change.
Within the project we implemented the following activities: Workshops for literary translators, which strengthened their knowledge of copyright law, bussiness negotiation and self-presentation; Management workshops, which gave the management of all three branch organisations a better understanding of management, strategic and financial planning as well as motivation of colleagues; A questionnaire mapping the working conditions of literary translators, which gave us hard data to work with; roundtables with publishers, which opened a dialogue on improving cooperation and working conditions; an international conference, through which we established contact with foreign translation organisations and drew inspiration from them; we created a model contract that all translators can use; and we drew attention to the importance of the translator''s work in a campaign targeted to public.
We trained 234 cultural players, organised 1 international conference, 2 round tables with publishers, created 1 model contract, developed 1 questionnaire mapping working conditions for translators and carried out 1 public information campaign. The project has improved the end-users'' knowledge of law, self-presentation, negotiation and management skills and has led to the launch of negotiations on changes to contracts and working conditions.
The project has significantly contributed to the professionalisation of Czech literary translators’ associations. It has succeeded in initiating cooperation between organizations of Czech literary translators, starting an exchange of experience and information and opening a dialogue with publishers on improving working conditions. Partial changes have already been achieved and it can be expected that more significant changes will occur as the activities develop further.
Summary of bilateral results
The greatest benefit of cooperation with foreign partners was the organization of an international conference, which, in addition to invited guests, was attended by 50 Czech translators from various languages. Representatives of Icelandic and Norwegian professional organizations introduced us to the working and contractual conditions under which translators work in their countries, and showed us what and how they had already managed to achieve, especially in negotiations with publishers and the promotion of translation work. The conference therefore represented an opportunity for us to exchange experiences, draw inspiration and establish important contacts that we can further develop in the future.