Scotland’s traditional culture, music and arts organisation Hands Up For Trad is calling on the public to put forward their Scots language champions for national recognition as nominations for this year’s Scots Language Awards officially open today.
The ceremony, which celebrates the Scots leid in daily life, education, business, arts and culture, will take place at Cumnock Town Hall on Saturday 14th September as it travels to Ayrshire for the first time this year.
With nominations open from today until Sunday 4th August, Scots speakers and supporters have two weeks to suggest worthy recipients in 12 categories which showcase the very best of Scots language and culture.
Tickets for the event are also on sale now, with legendary Galston-born Scots leid writer, broadcaster and advocate Billy Kay joining the event’s bill of local artists who will stage some incredible performances and recitals across the night. Billy joins singer, flute player and guitarist from Coylton in Ayrshire Seán Gray and National Library of Scotland’s Scots Scriever Susi Briggs.
The efforts of all those who champion the indigenous Scottish language are set to be celebrated across a range of areas at the upcoming awards ceremony, hosted in partnership with East Ayrshire Council. Scots speakers Taylor Dyson and Shane Strachan will present the winners with their awards on the night.
The award categories are:
- Janet Paisley Services to Scots Award, supported by Creative Scotland
- Scots Champion Award
- Young Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by Education Scotland
- Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by National Library of Scotland
- Scots Bairns Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Government
- Scots Speaker o the Year
- Scots Community Project o the Year
- Scots Educational Project o the Year
- Scots Teacher o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Qualifications Authority
- Scots Schuil (School) o the Year, sponsored by Itchy Coo / Black & White Publishing
- Scots Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Book Trust
- Scots Performer o the Year, sponsored by TRACS
Scots Language Awards organiser and Hands up for Trad Creative Director, Simon Thoumire, said: “It’s noo officially the time tae get yer Scots Language Awards nominations in. We want to hear aa aboot the fowk up an doon aa the pairts o Scotland; the ains wha are the grand advocates for the leid an hae makkit a contribution tae furtherin its yiss, in particlar throuoot the past year. Whether thae unsung heroes are yissin Scots at hame in their ain communities or in thir airts, we want tae ken aboot it an ettle tae shine a licht on thir efforts. Yiv got until August 4th tae mak shuir the spikkers an scrievers ye yersel ken are recognised, we cannae wait to hear thir stories.”
Provost Jim Todd said: “I urge everyone across Scotland to get their nominations submitted for the Scots Language Awards, which will be held in Ayrshire for the first time this September. Cumnock is the perfect location for the awards and I am really hopeful that our communities will nominate local people who do their upmost to promote the Scots Language, and keep it alive. It is important that we recognise this work, so please take five minutes to nominate because as we all know – if yer no in it, ye cannae win it.
As one of Scotland’s three indigenous languages, Scots continues to be a growing tongue. The Scots Language Awards were launched in 2019 to recognise this and the rich culture that is intrinsically linked to the language.
To nominate someone you know for a Scots Language Award, visit www.scotslanguageawards.com.
Nominations close on Sunday 4th August. The shortlist will be unveiled on Monday 26th August, when voting for winners also opens.
Tickets for the Scots Language Awards are available here: https://eastayrshireleisure.com/events/scots-language-awards/.