About ONK & TEDA
Osman N. Karaca established ONK AGENCY in 1959 – celebrated it’s 50th anniversary last year-whilst working as a journalist. Although various companies existed to market photographs, feature articles and comic strips, ONK was the first agency in Turkey that dedicated to the handling of copyrights issues relating to literature and drama. Initially the agency faced difficulties as the Turkish Copyright Law was very new and the entire concept of ‘copyright’ was alien to the world of publishers and theaters. The accomplishments and current status of the agency have been achieved despite such obstacles.

In all modesty, the ONK Agency has had considerable success in placing the works of foreign authors and playwrights with Turkish publishers and theatre producers as it continues to do today. However, it would not be fair to say it has had the same success introducing and placing the works of Turkish authors. It is true that in various countries Turkish works have been published through the efforts of the ONK Agency but the number of them has not been considerable. However, the Turkish Ministry of Culture has undertaken a new initiative as of 2005 with the aim of introducing Turkish literature to foreign countries in a similar manner to the efforts of the culture ministries of countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Ireland and Israel. The Ministry of Culture operating under the organizational name of T.E.D.A (Translation Subvention Project) aims to gain a broader audience for Turkish literature and better recognition of Turkish culture around the world. To achieve this it has instituted a program that subsidizes translation support to those foreign publishers that decide to publish Turkish classical and modern literary works. We strongly believe that this program has encouraged foreign publishers to look more warmly upon such projects and gave them a better insight as to the depths of Turkish literary works.
Indeed, as a result of the T.E.D.A initiative, ONK Agency has succeeded placing over 50 titles by Turkish authors with foreign publishers.

The Ministry also provides grants to leading foreign publishers to assist the translation, editing publication and promotion of books relating to Turkish culture, art and literature provided that such books are published outside of Turkey in languages other than Turkish.

An advisory committee set up by the Ministry meets at least twice annually (in June & October of each calendar year). The committee consists of seven members from Turkey’s academic and literary world with the undersecretary from the Ministry of Culture (or his deputy) and the director general of libraries and publications as ex-officio members.

We have included information about project T.E.D.A. in our Agency brochure as it is our wish to be of assistance to our foreign friends worldwide.

Applications for grants maybe made by interested foreign publishers directly to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism by registered post to the address given below. For more detailed information about the TEDA project please visit the Ministry’s website at www.kulturturizm.gov.tr

KULTUR VE TURIZM BAKANLIGI
Kutuphaneler ve Yayinlar Genel Mudurlugu
Fevzipasa Mahallesi
Cumhuriyet Blv. 4 – Ulus
06440 Ankara – TURKEY