The first annual Scots Language Awards were held on Friday night.
Hosted by Alistair Heather and Frieda Morrison, it saw nominees and the audience from right across Scotland head to Glasgow to celebrate the Scots Language, before enjoying live performances from MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2018 Singer of The Year Iona Fyfe, musician, actress and comedian Julie Duncanson, and folk singer/songwriter Steve Byrne at an exciting evening ceremony held in Glasgow’s Mitchell Theatre.
The country’s national language is spoken by over 30% of the population, particularly in the central and borders regions, with a Doric strain in the North East, and the new and hotly anticipated Awards have been established to reward excellence in schools, communities and arts.
The new Janet Paisley Lifetime Achievement Award created in memory of the internationally recognized writer, poet and playwright was presented by her sons including actor David Paisley to Sheena Blackhall who said: ‘I’m both shocked and very honoured to win the Janet Paisley Lifetime Award… I look on it mair as an award tae the Doric was weel’.
Scots Language has long been used by poets, authors, spoken in top films, and is experiencing a contemporary year on year resurgence with a fast growing number of all books being translated, and via children and social media as schools and communities connect, led by the public, influencers and media alike.
2019, The United Nations Year of Indigenous Language, was the prefect setting for Hands Up for Trad to develop a new national initiative to raise general awareness of the Scots Language on a platform for Scotland’s vibrant cultural calendar, in association with partners including Creative Scotland.
Music, language and verse were celebrated at the awards
Simon Thoumire, founder and director at Hands Up for Trad said: ‘It haes bin an grand furst year o the Scots Leid Awards! Thoosans o guid fowk wi thir votes gied recognition tae oor maist able scrievers, airtists, dominies an schuils. Ah cannae wait til next year!’
Mairi Kidd, head of literature, languages and publishing at Creative Scotland said: ‘Creative Scotland values and appreciates the important role that Scots language has played, and continues to play, in shaping the cultural landscape of Scotland.
‘In the UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages it’s especially great to have the opportunity to showcase the amazing creative work happening in Scots across the country. The nominations for awards tonight demonstrate the breadth of activity on stage, in print and on screen and we heartily congratulate Morna, Thomas, Frieda and all of the other winners on their awards.’
Education Scotland’s Bruce Eunson added: ‘We at Education Scotland ir right prood an aafil blyde tae support the Scots Language Awards. In particular, the Young Speaker Award. Aw the weans, bairns an young spikkers across Scotland the day hiv voices tae celebrate – thir the makkers o wir future.”
Dr. Michael Dempster of the Scots Language Centre stated; ‘The Scots Language Centre is delighted to welcome the inaugural Scots Language Awards, particularly during this, the UN year of Indigenous Languages. The public use and promotion of Scots is increasingly to the fore all year round and these awards are a very welcome addition to the calendar. We are particularly happy to be sponsoring the Writer of the Year award. Here’s to the continued and increasing success of the language and community.’
The audience were entertained by performers during the Scots Language Awards
The winners were:
Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by Scots Language Centre: Morna Young
Scots Media Person o the Year: Billy Kay
Scots Bairn’s Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Government: Diary o a Wimpy Wean by Thomas Clark
Scots Speaker o the Year: Frieda Morrison
Young Scots Speaker o the Year, sponsored by Education Scotland: Iona Fyfe
Scots Teacher o the Year, sponsored by the Scottish Qualifications Authority: Kirsty Crommie (Deanburn Primary, Falkirk)
Scots Schuil o the Year, sponsored by Itchy Coo and Black & White Publishing: Hawick High School, Scottish Borders
Scots Project o the Year: Doric Film Festival
Scots Business o the Year: Itchy Coo/Black & White Publishing
Scots Performer o the Year, sponsored by TRACS: Gary Robertson
For more information visit www.scotslanguageawards.com
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