The Saltire Society is sponsoring the 2012 Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. Here’s some of information about them.
The Saltire Society was founded in 1936 to improve the quality of life in Scotland and restore the country to its proper place as a creative force in Europe. It seeks to preserve all that is best in Scottish tradition and to encourage new developments which can strengthen and enrich the country’s cultural life. It has wide ranging interests including architecture, arts & crafts, civil engineering, history, literature, music, and science – and promotes excellence in many fields through a series of national awards.
The Society also seeks to revive the memory of famous Scots and to make the nation conscious of its heritage. It seeks to influence decision makers in Scotland through its committees. As well as working at national level the Society has members in branches throughout Scotland, working to promote the Society’s aims within their own communities.
Membership of the Saltire Society is open to all individuals and organisations who support the aims of the Society.
The Objectives of the Saltire Society
The Objectives are educational, cultural, and exclusively charitable in law namely to:
- increase public awareness of Scotland’s distinct natural and cultural heritage in all its richness and diversity and foster the cherishing and enrichment of all aspects of that heritage, including the Scots and Gaelic languages.
- enhance the quality of Scotland’s contribution to all the arts and sciences by encouraging creativity, inventiveness, and the achievement of the highest standards of excellence in these fields.
- build on the achievements of the past to advance Scotland’s standing as a vibrant, creative force in European civilisation.
- improve all aspects of Scottish life and letters at home and abroad, and strengthen Scotland’s cultural links with other countries and peoples.
The Society may co-operate with other organisations on matters which are in accord with its Objectives and give appropriate public expression to its views (as formulated by a General Meeting or by Council) within the constraint that the Society has no party-political or sectarian affiliation.
Saltire
The name ‘Saltire’ was taken from the oblique white cross on an azure field – in heraldry, a saltire – which is the emblem of St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, and forms the national flag.
On 2nd December 1983, The Lord Lyon King of Arms granted the Saltire Society its own Ensigns Armorial. The design of the Society’s Coat-of-Arms combines the Scottish flag with part of Nova Scotia’s and signifies the interdependence of past, present and future.