Formal announcement of the Sino-British Literary Translation Course has been made by Penguin and Arts Council England, the two sponsoring bodies of the course. This from the press release:

This exciting programme will offer a free residential workshop to early- and mid-career literary translators, working in both English and Chinese.

The aim is to create a platform for exchange among writers and translators from China and the UK to foster publishing and editorial excellence in both countries. In addition, it is hoped that the establishment of this translation programme will see greater numbers of Chinese works successfully make the long journey into the English language.

A one-week pilot programme will begin March 16, 2008, and has been made possible by the generous support of China’s General Administration of Press and Publications, England’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and Arts Council England. Course development is to be provided by the pioneering British Centre for Literary Translation.

Workshop sessions will be led by renowned sinologists and translators Howard Goldblatt and Bonnie McDougall, who will work with students and respected contemporary Chinese authors on a short story or chapter from a longer work. This hands-on experience and tutorial setting will give students valuable training in literary translation best practice and technique.

The application procedure (the course is accepting both Chinese-English and English-Chinese translators):

Prospective participants will be asked to submit the following by February 18:

• Resume, including professional and academic qualifications
• Cover letter, indicating their area of interest, their current involvement with literary translation, and their reasons for joining the course
• A sample translation of up to 1000 words of a piece of literature (attach both the original text and the translation)

Students will be informed of the decision before February 28, 2008.

Chinese to English translators should apply via info@cn.penguingroup.com. English to Chinese translators should call Qian Shuren at GAPP on +86-10-6521-2775.

We'll be attending for sure.