Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) and the Spain-USA Foundation (SUSAF) launch the fifth edition of Spain Writes, America Reads, the programme dedicated to promoting the translation and dissemination of works by Spanish authors in the United States literary market. Since its inception, the initiative has established itself as one of the most effective tools for the internationalisation of Spain's book sector — authors, publishers and translators alike — in the US, and is developed in collaboration with the Cultural Office of the Spanish Embassy in Washington D.C.
The programme is structured around three main lines of action:
Support for US publishers
The programme supports publishers with US distribution that publish in English, promoting the translation of Spanish authors — with priority given to those who have previously taken part in AC/E programmes such as the PICE or the Translation Grant scheme.
Support for translators
Through the Spain-USA Foundation Translation Award (SUFTA), presented jointly with the American Literary Translators Association (ALTA), the best English translation of a work by a Spanish author published in the US the previous year is recognised annually. Now in its fourth edition since its creation in 2022, the award has become a key reference in the field of literary translation from Spanish. The programme also supports the preparation of sample translations to facilitate rights sales in the American market.
Internationalisation of Spanish writers
The programme promotes the presence of Spanish authors in the US — both those whose work has not yet been translated into English, with the aim of opening doors to the American market, and those already translated, through promotional activities, tours, and participation in fairs and conferences. Selection is carried out by a committee of external specialists or by drawing on the rosters of recognised programmes such as 10 of 30: New Spanish Narrative, Granta: The Best Young Spanish-Language Novelists, The Spanish Riveter or Illustrating Spain in the US, among others.
About the Spain-USA Foundation
Founded in 1999, SUSAF is a non-profit foundation based in Washington D.C. whose mission is to promote Spanish cultural, scientific and educational activities in the United States, fostering cooperation and dialogue between the two countries. It works closely with the Spanish Embassy, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Spanish Ministry of Culture.