Writers, performers and a school in the South of Scotland have been nominated for Scots Language Awards.
The locals are among 50 outstanding nominees and individuals across 12 categories at the annual ceremony next month. Voting for this year’s Scots Language Awards is open now until Sunday 8 September and members of the local community are urged to get behind Dumfries locals and cast their votes.
Whit If? Scotland’s History as it Micht Hiv Been by Hugh McMillan has been nominated for a Scots Language Award for Scots Book o the Year. Hugh from Penpont in Dumfries and Galloway has written five full collections of poetry and has read in events and poetry festivals around the world. Whit If? Is Hugh’s first collection in Scots.
Yum by Susi Briggs has been nominated for a Scots Language Award for Scots Bairns Book of the Year. Author and storyteller, Susi Briggs from Gatehouse of Fleet, is passionate about Scots language literacy and has this year been appointed the National Library of Scotland’s Galloway Scots Scriever. Her new book Yum is a gentle story about the importance of sharing.
Cheery Odin has been nominated for a Scots Language Award in the Scots Performer o the Year category. The Hawick native released Gan Yer Dinger this year, an 18-track album which celebrates the Scots language and people of his hometown.
Burgh Primary School, Galashiels has been nominated for a Scots Language Award in the Scots Schuil o the Year category, thanks to their dedication to showcasing the Scots language as part of their curriculum.
This year, for the first time, the event will be held in Ayrshire – a region steeped in Scots language, culture and tradition and home to celebrated poet Robert Burns.
Taking place at Cumnock Town Hall on Saturday 14 September in partnership with East Ayrshire Council, the sixth annual awards ceremony celebrate the importance of the Scots leid – one of the country’s indigenous languages – and the people who champion its use in daily life, education, business, arts and culture.
Scots Language Awards organiser and Hands up for Trad Creative Director, Simon Thoumire, said: “We’re delighted to announce the nominees for this year’s Scots Language Awards and celebrate the Scots speakers, performers and writers in Dumfries. It’s exciting to be able to bring this national event to the heartlands of Scotland – a huge thank you to East Ayrshire Council for their support in making this happen.
“It’s incredible to have so many talented Scots performers, writers and teachers from across the country championing Scots leid and we can’t wait to celebrate their achievements at this upcoming award ceremony. The language is an integral part of Scottish culture and our national identity and a crucial creative outlet for so many. It is our privilege to be able to honour that. Voting opens today so now it’s over to you. Make sure to get your votes in and we’ll see you at Cumnock Town Hall on Saturday 14 September.”
Entertainment during the ceremony comes from a host of local artists including musical performances from talented Coylton singer, flautist and guitarist Seán Gray, accomplished folk singer Claire Hastings with more to be announced. The house band will be the award winning duo Eryn Rae and Sophie Joint.
Attendees will also be treated to a recital from celebrated National Library of Scotland’s Scots Scriever Susi Briggs and a spoken word performance from writer, broadcaster and advocate Billy Kay and tickets for the night are available now.
As one of Scotland’s three indigenous languages, Scots continues to be a growing tongue. The Scots language has long been used by authors, spoken in our top films, and is experiencing a contemporary renaissance with almost half of Scotland’s population proficient in the language to some capacity. The Scots Language Awards were launched in 2019 to recognise this and the rich culture that is intrinsically linked to the language.
Voting for the Scots Language Awards is open until Sunday 8 September and votes can be cast now at www.scotslanguageawards.com.
Tickets to attend the Scots Language Awards are available here: https://eastayrshireleisure.com/events/scots-language-awards/
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