The nominees have been announced for the Scots Language Awards 2023, with over 60 nominees in the running across 12 categories at the annual awards ceremony, which will showcase the very best of Scots language and culture.
The awards, which were first started in 2019, celebrate the importance of Scots language within arts and culture but also within daily life, education, and business, and will take place at Johnstone Town Hall, in partnership with Renfrewshire Council, on Saturday 16th September.
Voting for this year’s Scots Language Awards will be open from Monday 28th August to Sunday 10th September 2023.
The nominees are:
Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by National Library of Scotland
- Alan Miller
- Moreen Simpson
- James Robertson
- Rona Munro
- Alan Bissett
Scots Media Person o the Year
- Shane Strachan
- Bruce Fummey
- Lauren Hay
- Aiberdeen Mannie, aka Duncan Dallas
Scots Bairns Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Government
- Stick Mannie translated by James Robertson (Itchy Coo / Black & White Publishing)
- The Luath Treasury of Scottish Nursery Rhymes introduced and edited by Alasdair Hutton (Luath Press Ltd)
- Guid Mornin! An Guid Nicht! translated by Matthew Mackie (Tippermuir Books)
- Jock’s Daunder Roon Monymusk by P1,2,3 at Monymusk Primary School (Doric Books)
Scots Speaker o the Year
- Susi Briggs
- Jamie Fairbairn
- Tony Bonning
- Angela Gilmour
- Fiona Davidson
- Marc Sherland
Scots Teacher o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Qualifications Authority
- Jane Veitch – Monymusk Primary, Aberdeenshire
- Rebecca Logan – Banff Academy
- Claire Yeoman, Seaview Primary, Monifieth
- Scott Shields – Craigiebarns Primary, Dundee
- Brian McLaughlin – St Cadoc’s Primary School, Newton Mearns
Scots School o the Year, sponsored by Itchy Coo / Black & White Publishing
- Monymusk Primary School, Inverurie
- Lossiemouth High School
- Braeview Academy, Dundee
- Arbroath High School
- Jedburgh Grammar
- Fernhill School, Glasgow
- Millburn Academy, Inverness
- James Gillespie’s High School, Edinburgh
- Newton Primary, Ayr
- Fossoway Primary School, Kinross
- St Machar Academy, Aberdeen
- Kirkcudbright Academy
- Mary Russell School, Paisley
- Ralston Primary School, Paisley
Scots Project o the Year
- Trad Time Wi TMSA on KCR FM
- Lure o the Leid podcast – TRACS (Tradeitional Airts Cultur Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Storytelling Forum
- Speakin’ Weird – Orla Kelly, Aberdeen Writers
- Mearns Writers Doric Language project
- Aberdeen Student Show – ‘Ayetanic’
- Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Scots interpretation, James’s People Display
- Moat Brae centre for children’s literature, Dumfries
- The Linen Hall, Belfast
- The Traditional Singing Weekend at Cullerlie
- Future of Scots Symposium, Oor Vyce, Glasgae Uni
- Historic Scotland Jarslhof
Scots Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Book Trust
- The Banes o The Turas by Jim Mackintosh (Tippermuir Books)
- Animal Fairm translated by Thomas Clark (Luath Press)
- The Aul Testament in Doric translated by Gordon Hay
- WTF is Normal Anyway by Jo Gilbert (Seahorse Publications)
- Tales Fae The Doric Side: An Anthology of New Writing in Doric/North-East Scots (Doric Books)
- AA Cled Wi Clouds She Cam: 60 Lyrics Frae the Chinese: Translations in Scots and English translated by Brian Holton (Irish Pages)
Scots Performer o the Year, sponsored by TRACS
- Len Pennie
- Natalie Chalmers
- Taylor Dyson
- Fiona Soe Paing
- Danielle Jam
- Emmah Chibesakunda
- Ailsa Dixon
- Tim Porteus
Scots Business o the Year
- Mither Tongue
- Luath Press
- Orbs Bookshop
- Scottish Scrievers Centre
- Tippermuir Books
- Upperkrust Sandwich Shop
- J.G. Ross the Baker
The highly-regarded Janet Paisley Services to Scots Award will be presented by Alistair Heather and Taylor Dyson and the Young Scots Writer o the Year award will be presented on the night.
There will be a host of incredible entertainment on display, including a recital from Renfrewshire’s poet laureate poet Shaun Moore, who was appointed as the region’s Tannahill Makar last year, talks from esteemed Scottish writers Cat Cochrane and Shane Strachan, and musical performances from celebrated brother duo Euan and Lewis McLaughlin, and talented folk singer Iona Fyfe.
Scotland’s traditional culture, music and arts organisation Hands Up For Trad organise the annual event, and organiser Simon Thoumire said: “We ur delichtit tae let ye ken the number o nominees fir the Scots Leid Awards submitit ower aa the sindrie categories haes bin jist grand! An its bin wunnerfu tae lairn aboot aa the fowk, some names we already kent, ithers new tae us, ettlin tae mak shuir oor braw Scots leid steys in guid hert. It haes nivver been mair importint tae acknowledge the fowk whaes wirk is keeping the leid tae the fore baith in thir daily lives an in its cultur, music an wirds. Sae mony nominations tae mak ye prood, an submitit as weel fae aa pairts o Scotland and beyond.
“Aince votin stairts, its ower tae the public tae mak thir chuisins. The winners wull be anooncit at a ceremony in Johnstone Toon Ha’ Johnstone Renfrewshire oan Seturday 16th September. It wull be a haurd joab tae chuise fae sae mony amazin nominees. Sae mak shuir ye get yer votes in!”
Renfrewshire’s Provost, Lorraine Cameron, said: “The Scots Language Awards is a fantastic celebration of Scots heritage and culture and I’m looking forward to welcoming the event to Johnstone Town Hall in September.
“It’s especially exciting to see some of our local performers and schools listed among the nominees. This shows how much interest in our Scots heritage has grown and by hosting events like this and celebrating Scots culture that interest will surely grow.”
Scots language has long been used by authors, spoken in our top films, and is experiencing a contemporary year on year resurgence via social media including a huge new audience of all ages on TikTok, as communities connect and realise their heritage, led by the public, influencers, and media alike.
Voting for the Scots Language Awards will open on 28th August and votes can be cast at www.scotslanguageawards.com.
Tickets for the Scots Language Awards are available here: https://renfrewshireboxoffice.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/11736415
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