You don't have to be the one writing the book to win a Global Talent Visa in Literature. Arts Council England (ACE) officially supports "independent publishing" of poetry, prose, and graphic novels. If you run a respected indie press, edit a major literary journal, or curate a successful zine, you are eligible to apply as an enabler and curator of literary arts.
Curator vs. Corporate Executive
ACE endorses cultural curators, not corporate CEOs. If you are the CEO of a massive commercial textbook publisher, you will be rejected because your work is deemed commercial/informational. If you are the founder and editor of a boutique independent press that discovers and publishes award-winning debut novelists, you are a prime candidate.
How to Prove "Exceptional Talent" as a Publisher
- Author Success: The strongest evidence for a publisher is the success of the authors they publish. If an author you discovered and edited wins a major literary prize (e.g., The Booker Prize, National Book Award), we use that as proof of your exceptional editorial eye.
- Press & Reviews: Reviews of your press's catalog in major literary supplements. We also look for profiles or interviews about you as an editor or publisher in the cultural media.
- Grants & Institutional Support: Proof that your press receives funding from national arts organizations to support its cultural mission.