The shortlist for the Scots Language Awards 2025 has been unveiled, with figures from Scottish literature, theatre, education and business all in the running for awards at the annual ceremony.
Orkney Voices Vaigan b’ the shore is nominated for Community Project o the Year and Josie Giles is up for Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by National Library of Scotland.
Voting is open and online until 31st August: www.scotslanguageawards.com.
Written by Issy Grieve and Greer Norquoy, Orkney Voices Vaigan b’ the Shore performed at the Johnsmas Foy, St Magnus Festival, was a multi media presentation bringing together music, visuals, poetry and the character of the poet Robert Rendall, with ‘live’ painting from Ingrid Grieve during the performance.
Josie Giles is a writer and performer who grew up in Orkney.
Scots Language Awards host Taylor Dyson said:
“Scots is oor language – it’s intrinsically linked to oor culture and we are so proud tae celebrate it. This is a chance tae gie credit tae aa the guid fowk daein work in Scots.
“We’ll be gien oot awards tae teachers wha promote Scots in scuils, tae actors yaisin Scots on stage, fowk scrievin books for bairns an adults, as weel as aa sorts o ither awards.
“We would encourage folk tae cast a vote for the projects, poets, businesses and figures they reckon deserve it maist and why not come alang for a celebration of all things Scots in Dundee this September.”
There are 45 individuals and organisations nominated who each showcase the Scots language in their own unique way. 2025 nominees hail from across Scotland and voting is open until Sunday 31st August.
The Scots tongue was given official status as a language earlier this year with the unanimous passing of the Scottish Languages Bill. Now in its seventh year, the Scots Language Awards – organised by cultural advocacy organisation Hands Up For Trad – aim to recognise the importance of the Scottish indigenous language to daily Scottish life.
Returning to Dundee, the 2025 awards will be held at Discovery Point on Saturday 6th September and hosted by Dundee’s own Taylor Dyson, who is this year’s National Library of Scotland Scots Scriever, and Scots folk singer from Angus, Lynne Campbell.
The full list of nominees are:
Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by National Library of Scotland
- Josie Giles
- Kathleen Jamie
- Len Pennie
- Yvonne Tait
Scots Community Project o the Year
- Auchies Spikkin’ Auchie – Grace Stewart-Skinner
- Blether – Dundee Scots Nicht
- Celtic Croft – Limelight Music
- Orkney Voices Vaigan b’ the shore
- Seagully Blonde, Aberdeen
Scots Bairns’ Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Government
- Foggie Bummer Rescue by Aaron Gale (Doric Books)
- Corrie Doon by Jackie Kay (Walker Books)
- Hirda Da Oorick (Peerie Oorick)
- Hiya in There Wee Bairnie (NHS/Dundee Contemporary Arts)
- The Lass and the Quine (Tippermuir Books)
Scots Teacher o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Qualifications Authority
- Antonia Uri, Peterhead Academy
- Mirren Aird, Perth High School
- Nicola Daniel, Broughton High School
- Olivia Stephen, Meethill Primary School, Fraserburgh
Scots School o the Year
- Meethill Primary School, Fraserburgh
- Perth High School
- Stanley Primary School
- Turriff Academy
Scots Stage Production o the Year
- Goodbye Dreamland Bowlarama by Calum Kelly and Taylor Dyson
- Mistero Buffo (Translator: Joseph Farrell, Director: Ben Standish, A Play, A Pie and A Pint)
- So Long Wee Moon (Braw Clan)
- The Concert Party (Garidge Theatre)
- The Not So Serious Burns Unit by Hamish and Liza
- Through the Shortbread Tin (National Theatre of Scotland)
- Up a Close (Kingsman Travelling Theatre Company)
Scots Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Book Trust
- Bloodsongs by Mae Diansangu (Tapsalteerie)
- Fower Pessoas – Colin Bramwell (Carcanet Press Ltd)
- Goonie by Michael Mullen (Little, Brown)
- Iain MacLachlain, This Is What You Get (Rymour)
- William Soutar, Collected Poems (vols 1&2) (Tippermuir Books)
Scots Performer o the Year, sponsored by TRACS
- Eileen Budd
- Ellie Beaton
- Josie Duncan
- Lawrence Boothman
- Robyn Stapleton
Scots in Business, sponsored by Scots Hoose
- Braw Tea (Broughty Ferry)
- Captain Dugwash (Airdrie)
- Dook (St Andrews)
- Run4It (Dundee)
- Scunnered Ink
- The Selkie (Dundee)
The Scots Champion, Janet Paisley Services to Scots Award, sponsored by Creative Scotland, and the Young Scots Writer o the Year award, sponsored by Education Scotland, will be decided by a panel of judges and presented at the event.
The awards will also showcase performances from some of the finest Scots cultural practitioners including Scots singer Ellie Beaton, Slam poetry champion Hamish MacDonald and young Edinburgh vocalist Amy Leach. The event will be followed by an after party at Dundee Scots Language night Blether.
The Scots Language Awards 2025 will take place at Discovery Point, Dundee on 6th September.
Voting is open until 31st August. Visit www.scotslanguageawards.com.
