The successful applicants for the newly instituted Scots Language Publication Grant have recently been announced. The funding for the Scots Language Grants was provided by the Scottish Government and is administered by the Scottish Book Trust in Edinburgh. The grant was created by the Scots Language Resource Network to support Scottish publishers and encourage writers in the Scots language and 2019 is the first year of the awards. The grants have supported a wide range of publications from children’s books, to poetry and non-fiction. The assessment process was done by a panel consisting of a writer, and representatives from Creative Scotland, Education Scotland and Publishing Scotland.

Publications that received funding this year included Hamish MacDonald Burds in Scots (Scotland Street Press), The Complete Works of William Soutar (Tippermuir Books), Itchy Coo The Itchy Coo Book of Hans Anderson (Black and White Publishing), Irene Watt, Ann Macinnon and Finola Scott Modern Makars (Tapsalteerie), Christine Williamson Roads to Nae Wey (Luath) and Stuart Paterson Wheen (Chapman).

Commenting on these and other works Rhona Alcorn, head of Scottish Language Dictionaries and chair of the Scots Language Resource Network said “There is a large appetite for books in Scots and the successful titles clearly demonstrate that the language is thriving in multiple genres.” Deputy First Minister John Swinney also said “It shows the wealth of talent and interest we have in the language, and strengthens the case for the Scottish Government’s support of Scots and those who wish to use it.”