Scotland’s traditional culture, music an airts organisation Hands Up For Trad is giein a shout oot tae the public tae pit forrit thir ain Scots leid champions for national recognition, as nominations for this year’s Scots Language Awards officially gets unnerwey the day, Monday 22nd July.
The Awards ceremony, celebratin the Scots leid in daily life, eddication, business, airts and culture, will tak place at Cumnock Town Hall on Seturday 14th September as it traivels intae Ayrshire this year for the first time.
Scots is ane o the maist publisht minority leids in the warld. Ilka year sees it camin mair an mair tae the fore amang the populace wi the growin yiss o social media bringin communities thegither. The Scots leid, or ‘Lallans’ as it was aince better kent, is sic an important pairt o Scottish life. The thocht ahint the Awards is tae hielicht the Scots leid in aa its mony forms, bringin it forrit intae the een o the public an media.
Wi nominations open fae noo until Sunday 4th August, Scots spikkers an supporters hae twa weeks to pit forrit wha thae think wad be warthy recipients in ony or aa the 12 categories which showcase the verra best o Scots leid an culture.
Tickets for the event are on sale now (https://eastayrshireleisure.com/events/scots-language-awards/), wi weel-kent Galston-born Scots scriever, broadcaster an bonnie fechter fir the leid Billy Kay jinin the event’s bill o local airtists giein some braw performances and recitals ower the nicht. Billy jines sangster, flute player and guitarist fae Coylton in Ayrshire Seán Gray and National Library o Scotland’s Scots Scriever Susi Briggs.
The efforts of aa thae wha champion the indigenous Scottish leid are set to be celebratit richt ower a range o areas at the upcoming awards ceremony, hosted in pairtnership wi East Ayrshire Council. Scots spikkers Taylor Dyson an Shane Strachan will present the winners wi thir awards on the nicht.
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 an 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/
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For interview or further information please contact Hannah Innes, E: hannah@innesandcampbell.co.uk, M: 07790813712, W: www.innesandcampbell.co.uk or Corrie Campbell, E: corrie@innesandcampbell.co.uk, M: 07900981073, W: www.innesandcampbell.co.uk
For more information visit www.scotslanguageawards.com or follow on X @handsupfortrad, Instagram @handsupfortrad, Facebook @handsupfortrad, TikTok @handsupfortrad. Tickets are available here: https://eastayrshireleisure.com/events/scots-language-awards/