The publication of art books in France is increasing in response to the growth of public interest in art; approximately 1,200 titles are now being published each year. Most French art books are published by commercial publishers; while French publishing in general is concentrated in the hands of a relatively few publishing houses, art publishing is undertaken by a wider range of bodies including, in many cases, smaller establishments dedicated to quality and having particular interests and strengths. Publications from these smaller concerns tend to be printed in editions of around 6,500; sales are generally too few to encourage the issue of paperback editions, although co-editions, produced in conjunction with publishers in other countries and thus reaching a wider public, are becoming more frequent. Although the range and the nature of art books from the commercial publishers is limited by the constraints of profitability, many art publications, including exhibition catalogues and works of scholarships, are also produced by cultural institutions such as museums. Art publishing of all kinds benefits from sponsorship, including prizes. Purchasers of art books include collectors of beautiful books; art books purchased by the general public are mostly bought during the Christmas season, although currently efforts are being made to promote sales at other times of year. Although French art publishers cannot compete with English-language art publishing in quantity or diversity, the quality of their volumes are of the highest order.