Industry Insider – Imagining new funding futures

Current discussions around funding across the publishing industry seem to suffer from a lack of imagination: there is both intense criticism of current situations and, in some cases, a desire to return to a past that – if we’re honest – is not going to come back. But we are creative people! If anyone can help to imagine equitable and sustainable futures for workers in the books industry, surely it is the writers, translators and illustrators who make up the SoA.

Looking ahead to the 2026 elections in Scotland, this panel discussion will survey today’s funding landscape, imagine some more equitable future possibilities and begin to map out how we might get there.

This event is in conjunction with the Society of Authors in Scotland (SoAiS)

#SoAatHome Industry Insider events – free for all + donation

Our #SoAatHome industry insider events are free for all but with a donation option when registering for the event.

All donations made go towards the Society of Authors’ Access Fund. The fund is to help provide authors support for travel, subsistence, childcare or access needs for events, residencies, and retreats. If you would like to make a donation with your booking, please do so when registering for the event below.

Programme

• Welcome, introductions and housekeeping from Tom Jeffreys (3 mins)
• Panel discussion chaired by Tom Jeffreys and Sam Gonçalves (60 mins)
• Comfort break (5 mins)
• Q&A with audience (20 mins)
• Summary and closing comments (2 mins)
• This event will be moderated by Elsa Robert – Executive Administrator, SoA

The Line-up

Tom Jeffreys

Tom is a writer who lives in Edinburgh. His work is mostly creative non-fiction in response to art and place, and he regularly collaborates with artists and cultural organisations.

Tom’s books include: Walking: Documents of Contemporary Art (Whitechapel Gallery and The MIT Press, 2024); To an island in a loch on an island in a loch, with Kirsty Badenoch (Mouldy Books, 2023); The White Birch: A Russian Reflection (Little, Brown, 2021); and Signal Failure: HS2 on Foot (Influx Press, 2017).

Tom’s writing has also appeared in publications such as Art Monthly, ArtReview, Country Walking, Cricinfo, e-flux, Frieze, The Guardian, The Independent, Monocle, New Scientist and The World of Interiors. He is represented by Zoe Ross at United Agents. 

Instagram: @tom__jeffreys | Website: https://www.tom-jeffreys.co.uk

Sam Gonçalves

Sam Gonçalves joined the SoA in April 2024, and is a writer from Brazil, currently living in Glasgow. Previously, he has worked with organisations like Creative Dundee, The Ferret, Hot Chocolate Trust, Greater Govanhill and others – both in the Third Sector and in the Creative Industries.

Advocacy for authors is a major part of this role. Sam brings a background in community development and organising, and a host of ideas on how the SoA can network with government and industry agencies to represent issues that matter to authors in Scotland.

What will this session cover?

• Different visions for more equitable and sustainable publishing
• The role of trade unions such as the SoA in making these ideas a reality
• Current problems and how to solve them
• Testing new funding models, such as Universal Basic Income

Who is this session for?

While the conversation will have a particular focus on Scotland, the session is for any writers and book workers who would like to see a better funded publishing industry for everyone.

About Society of Authors in Scotland (SoAiS)

Members with a Scottish postcode are added to the group when they join the SoA. If you have not been added but would like to join this group, please contact us.

We offer a varied calendar of activities organised by a committee of volunteers and staff coordinator Elsa Robert. Group activities are reported in the SoA’s quarterly magazine, The Author.

Send us your questions

If you would like to send questions in advance, email ERobert@societyofauthors.org with ’New funding futures’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day.

SoA Fundraising Bookshop

Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund, giving authors support for travel, subsistence, childcare or access needs for events, residencies, and retreats.

Need to know

Accessibility

• Attendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript, to watch with subtitles
• If you require BSL interpretation for this event, please email events@societyofauthors.org

Before the event

• Once registered, you will be sent a confirmation email with the Zoom link
• If the confirmation email doesn’t arrive in your inbox, please check your junk/spam email folder
• Please add events@societyofauthors.org to your Safe Senders list so you receive our confirmation and reminder emails

During the event

• This online event will take place on Zoom Webinar; you will not be visible on screen but will be able to ask questions via the Q&A function or interact via the chat box
• This event will be recorded but you won’t be on screen
• Attendees have the option to turn on the live transcript
• This event is 90 minutes

After the event

• Hashtags for this event: #SoAatHome 
• You’ll be able to catch the recording on our Vimeo channel

Booking

Please either use the form titled ‘Register – no donation’ or the option of the different ticket options with a donation amount depending on how much you would like to donate towards the Society of Authors Access Fund.