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.

VOTE IN THE AWARDS

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)

VOTE IN THE AWARDS

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