THE National’s own Scots language columnist and respected poet Rab Wilson has been appointed the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum’s scriever in residence.
The new writer in residence at the birthplace of Scotia’s bard in Alloway was previously Robert Burns Writing Fellow in Scots for Dumfries and Galloway and is a weel kent figure on the Burns scene.
An award-winning poet, Rab has produced many collections of poetry, chiefly written in the Scots language.
He said: “I am very proud to take up this role. The Scottish Government has invested heavily in promoting the Scots language and this is a great opportunity to heize up the use of Scots in Burns’s Ayrshire heartland and keep the language going as a living, breathing entity.”
As part of the museum’s new Scots language strategy, Rab was appointed to “enshrine” its commitment to the Scots language.
Chris Waddell, the museum’s learning manager, said: “We already have lots of Scots language provision at the site, in our interpretation, our programmes for schools and our events programme.
“However, this strategy will enshrine our commitment to the Scots language and seeks to deliver on the aims laid out in the Scottish Government’s Scots language strategy released last year.
“Burns is so readily associated with our native tongue that we felt this museum was a natural place to establish a centre of excellence for the Scots language in the south west of Scotland and Rab’s appointment as scriever will be a big part of that.”
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