Motion S4M-04873: Linda Fabiani, East Kilbride, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 19/11/2012

10th Anniversary of Scottish Language Dictionaries

That the Parliament acknowledges that 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of Scottish Language Dictionaries, formed in 2002 as a successor to A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue and the Scottish National Dictionary Association; recognises that Scottish Language Dictionaries aims to ensure the future of the writing, editing and compiling of Scots language dictionaries; commends its achievements, including the launch of the online Dictionary of the Scots Language and the expansion of its outreach programmes to promote Scots dictionaries to a wider audience and the building of relationships with schools, universities and community groups, and appreciates its commitment to increasing understanding, awareness and preservation of the Scots language.

Motion S4M-04209: Kenneth Gibson, Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 19/09/2012

The McLellan Arts Festival, Isle of Arran

That the Parliament recognises the annual McLellan Arts Festival, which is held on the Isle of Arran; notes that the 2012 festival, which ran from 31 August to 9 September, is held in honour of the Scottish dramatist and short story writer, Robert McLellan, who was an Arran resident for most of his life; understands that McLellan was an inspirational writer who rose to prominence for his skill in writing literary works in Scots and played a key role in the development of Scottish literature and drama; understands that the festival promotes McLellan’s creations by performing his works and providing an opportunity for aspiring writers to be recognised in the art world through poetry and playwriting competitions; notes that, this year, there were various events including dance workshops, performances, music sessions and what is considered the prestigious McLellan Poetry Prize, which is overseen by the Arran Theatre and Arts Trust and was judged by the Scottish poet and novelist, Jackie Kay, and considers that the festival provides an important opportunity to promote and support new and aspiring talent among the arts.

Motion S4M-04138: Joan McAlpine, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 14/09/2012

Billy Kay's The Cause on BBC Radio Scotland

That the Parliament welcomes The Cause, a series of five programmes to be broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland; believes that what it considers this major series will see Billy Kay explore the themes of identity, culture and politics in order to attempt to trace the development of Scottish nationalism from the earliest days of Bruce and Wallace to the founding of the SNP, the rise of civic nationalism, the Covenant Movement and what it considers to be the success of the reconvened Parliament; believes that Billy Kay is one of Scotland's finest broadcasters and cultural historians; understands that the series begins on 24 September 2012 at 2.05 pm and will be repeated on 29 September at 6.04 am and 1 October at 2.00 am; looks forward to hearing interviews with people who it believes have devoted their lives to the movement, including the former SNP party chairman, James Halliday, and the editor of The Scots Independent, Jim Lynch, as well as Winnie Ewing and the family of “King” John MacCormick; notes that there will be contributions from historians considered eminent, as Professor James Mitchell, Professor Richard Finlay and Professor Allan MacInnes from the University of Strathclyde, Dr Peter Lynch from the University of Stirling and Dr Fiona Watson from the University of Dundee; welcomes what it understands will be the strong cultural dimension of the series, with poetry from Barbour to MacCaig and readings from Burns, Scott, Stevenson and MacDiarmid; notes that the series will feature music and song, including Hamish Henderson’s, Freedom Come Aa Ye and its theme music will be by Cherrygrove, a band featuring Sarah MacNeil, a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland who composed  Free or a Desert  to commemorate John Baird, James Wilson and Andrew Hardie, the Scottish political martyrs of 1820, and congratulates Billy Kay on developing what it considers a timely series that will capture the mood of a modern nation with a rich, inspiring past and an exciting future.