Aberdeenshire Scots language stars nominated for national awards
A raft of individuals and organisations have been nominated for Scots Language Awards.
The Aberdeenshire locals are among 50 outstanding nominees and individuals across 12 categories at the annual ceremony this month.
Voting for this year’s Scots Language Awards is open now until Sunday, September 8 and members of the local community are urged to get behind Aberdeenshire locals and cast their votes.
Aberdonian poet and spoken word artist Mae Diansangu has been nominated for a Scots Language Award for Scots Writer of the Year.
Mae has performed at literary festivals across Scotland and appeared on BBC Scotland's Big Scottish Book Club and BBC Radio 4's Tongue and Talk.
Nominated for Scots Stage Production of the Year is My Doric Diary - a heart-warming story about what it means to love and what it takes to let go presented in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts and supported by Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance Programme.
Doric Bootcamp, set up by Dr Jamie Fairbairn, a Scots language teacher and head of humanities at Banff Academy, has been nominated for Scots Educational Project of the Year.
The programme was held over the summer as part of a bid to help beginners get to grips with the language.
Also nominated for Scots Educational Project of the Year is The Wee Gaitherin Heritage Exhibition - a showcase of poetry which took place in Stonehaven.
Summer e Magic Scurry has been nominated for Scots Bairns Book of the Year. The book was written by pupils at Riverbank Primary School about a naughty herring gull who takes the Primary 5F pupils on an adventure.
Nominated for Scots Cultural Project of the Year is Doric Film Festival - a unique event which showcases Doric language and culture through film.
The acclaimed festival, which is supported by the Scottish Government, is the brainchild of Scots radio director Frieda Morrison who created the platform to celebrate the Doric language and its cultural identity.
Cullerlie Traditional Singing Weekend has been nominated for Scots Community Project of the Year.
A unique celebration bringing together outstanding traditional singers from Scotland, England, and Ireland, the event is especially for those who like to hear, enjoy and join in unaccompanied traditional singing.
Local actor Sam Allan has been nominated for Scots Performer of the Year. A film and visual culture student at the University of Aberdeen, Sam has appeared in a number of Aberdeen Student Shows including Mounthoolin Rouge and Ayetanic.
Former National Library of Scotland Scots scriever Shane Strachan has been nominated for Scots Book of the Year. His groundbreaking debut collection of poems in Dwams explore the climate emergency, rising xenophobia, and queer romance and sex.
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, September 14 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 see so many individuals and groups from Aberdeenshire nominated across eight categories.
“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 is now open 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, September 14.”
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, September 8 and votes can be cast now at www.scotslanguageawards.com
Visit https://eastayrshireleisure.com/events/scots-language-awards/ for tickets to attend the Scots Language Awards.
