THE nominations for the 2020 Scots Language Awards have been announced, and public voting is now open.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s event will be held online to “keep going forward whilst also celebrating and recognising those who work with the Scots language”.
It is the awards’ second year after they were set up in 2019, The United Nations Year of Indigenous Language, to celebrate the best of Scots.
Nominees across categories such as “Scots Project o the Year”, “Scots Performer o the Year” and “Scots Writer o the Year” include comedian Janey Godley, poet Stuart Paterson, and campaign Oor Vyce.
The Janet Paisley Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded to the novelist and editor of the Scots language imprint Itchy Coo, James Robertson.
Hosted by The National’s Alistair Heather, who won plaudits for his BBC documentary on the language Rebel Tongue, the digital ceremony will be held on October 24.
There will also be a ticketed concert from Iona Fyfe, who is nominated in the “Scots Performer o the Year” category, on Friday October 23.
From 11am to 5pm on the day of the event the Scottish Language Centre’s Laura Green will lead a new free online programme of “readings, fun and conversations” called the Wee Gaitherin’, accessible through Hands Up For Trad’s Facebook and YouTube.
Hands Up for Trad is the awards’ organising body. Funded by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, it was formed in 2002 and exists to increase the profile and visibility of traditional Scottish music and culture through information, advocacy and education to artists, participants and audiences.
READ MORE: Online team launch campaign to fix 'mangled' Scots Wikipedia
Hands Up for Trad’s Simon Thoumire said: “I’m so thrilled at the calibre of this year’s incredible nominees for 2020’s Scots Language Awards, which in all ways are reflective of the pivots taking place within culture due to lockdown.”
Bruce Eunson of Education Scotland said: “Followin on fae the inaugural awards in 2019, it’s fantastic tae see sae mony inspirin projects, books an fowk gittin a chance tae share an celebrate thir wark.
“We at Education Scotland ir delighted tae be involved agayn, an wid lik tae gie a big thank you tae aa the schuils, teachers, wee weans an braw bairns wha hiv excelled in thir use o Scots language in classrooms aa across the country.”
You can vote for as many or as few of the categories as you like here, or buy tickets to Iona Fyfe’s concert here.
Nominees
1) Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by Creative Scotland
Christie Williamson
Gerda Stevenson
Shane Strachan
Sheila Templeton
Stuart Paterson
2) Scots Media Person o the Year
Colin Burnett
Joanna Kopaczyk
Paul McNichol and Ronny Costello, Dode Fox Podcast, (Dundee Utd Podcast)
Stewart Bremner
3) Scots Bairns Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Government
A Squatter o Bairn Rhymes by Stuart Paterson (Tippermuir)
Asterix and the Olympic Gemmes by Matthew Fitt (Dalen Alba)
Nib Nebs and the Last Berry by Susi Briggs (Curly Tale)
Peppa and the Bonnie Unicorn by Thomas Clark (Black & White)
Sonny and Me by Ross Sayers (Cranachan)
The Itchy Coo Book o Hans Christian Andersen by various (Itchy Coo)
4) Scots Speaker o the Year
Andrew Davidson
Josie Neill
Ashley Douglas
Janey Godley
Róisín Gallagher
Steve Byrne
5) Young Scots Writer sponsored by Education Scotland
Due to the nature of this Award, Winners & Runners Up will be announced during the event.
6) Scots Teacher o the Year, sponsored by the Scottish Qualifications Authority
Claire Kerr, St Andrew’s Primary School
Eleanor Boyd, Hill of Beath Primary School
Fiona MacNab, Fyvie Primary School
Fiona McAllister, Lossiemouth High School
Jamie Fairbairn, Banff Academy
Jen Morrow, Braeview Academy, Dundee
Sam Best, Smithycroft Secondary
Shelley Procek, Carrongrange High School
7) Scots Schuil o the Year, sponsored by Itchy Coo and Black & White Publishing
Banff Academy, Aberdeenshire
Dunfermline High School, Fife
Fyvie Primary School, Aberdeenshire
Hill of Beath Primary School, Fife
Lossiemouth High School, Moray
Perth High School, Perth
Smithycroft Secondary School, City of Glasgow
St Andrew’s Primary School, Dumfries
8) Scots Project o the Year
Champions 2020 – Scottish Poetry Library
Doric Dwams wi Frieda Strachan and Shane Strachan
Grow Radio
Oor Vyce
OU Scots Language and Culture course
Wee Windaes – National Library of Scotland
9) Scots Business o the Year
Cranachan Publishing
Gie it Laldy, Glasgow
Quirky Coo, Dundee www.quirkycoo.co.uk
Susan McGill Designs
The Wee Book Company https://www.theweebookcompany.com
10) Scots Performer o the Year sponsored by Tracs
Amy Conachan
Angus Shoor Caan
Iona Fyfe
Shona Donaldson
11) Janet Paisley Lifetime Achievement Award
Awardit tae James Robertson
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel