News
New children's laureate to take on Waterstone's branding
21 Apr 2011
The new children's laureate will be branded the Waterstone's children's laureate for the first time. The chain has been the major sponsor of the laureateship since 2006.
Government funding cuts for the position, to be elected in June, were 50% from £15,000 to £7,500 for 2011-2012, making Waterstone's sponsorship more important to the laureateship than ever. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) grant had represented around a third of the laureate's funding, so the laureateship will operate on reduced funds for the next year.
John Dunne, chair of the Children's Laureate Steering Group, said:
At a time when public and private funding is under so much pressure, it is extremely heartening to see Waterstone's reaffirming and strengthening their commitment to the laureateship."
Every Waterstone's branch in the country will feature the new children's laureate in their shop windows. In a gesture to other retailers, a non-Waterstone's branded logo will be employed on point of sale for use elsewhere.
Read more at The Bookseller.
