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<h1>Media Release: Creative Scotland publishes its policy for Scots language</h1>
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<img src="http://www.allmediascotland.com/wp-content/uploads/ams/csmediaoffice/Scots-Language-Policy-Dr-Chris-Scally-NLS-Cabinet-Secretary-Fiona-Hyslop-James-Robertson-Writer-Jenny-Niven-CS-credit-Rob-McDougall-Photography-460x250.jpg" class="" alt="Creative Scotland Publishes its policy for Scots Language.">
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<p>CREATIVE Scotland is today publishing its first Scots Language
Policy, underlining the organisation’s commitment to supporting the
language through its own work and the work that it funds across the
arts, screen and creative industries.</p>
<p>A key element of the policy is the creation of the role of Scots
Scriever, a first for Scotland, and a joint initiative between Creative
Scotland and the National Library of Scotland.</p>
<p>This role, open to applications from today, will be a two-year
residency, based at the National Library of Scotland supported with
funding from Creative Scotland.</p>
<p>The purpose of the role of Scots Scriever will be to produce original
creative work in Scots, its variants and dialects, across any art-form,
as well as raising awareness, appreciation and use of Scots across the
country and amongst all parts of the population.</p>
<p>Creative Scotland’s Scots Language Policy was published today at an
event hosted by the National Library of Scotland and attended by Fiona
Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs and
the writer and Scots publisher, James Robertson.</p>
<p>Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External
Affairs, said: “The Scottish Government’s ambition is for the Scots
language to be recognised, valued and use in Scottish public and
community life.</p>
<p>“The Scots language is an essential part of Scotland’s distinctive
culture and heritage, and the Scottish Government takes seriously the
promotion of the Scots language throughout Scotland in all its regional
and local variants.</p>
<p>“In adopting this policy, Creative Scotland acknowledges the
contribution the Scots language has brought, and continues to bring, to
Scotland’s rich culture and heritage, in a country with over 1.5 million
Scots speakers.”</p>
<p>James Robertson said: “I welcome this strong statement of commitment
and intent from Creative Scotland. It recognises Scots both as a part of
the identity and daily life of hundreds of thousands of people, and as a
special national cultural asset.</p>
<p>“I hope this policy encourages creative individuals and organisations
throughout the land to engage with Scots in all kinds of ways.</p>
<p>“This is not about looking back, whatever the language’s past
achievements: it is about ensuring that Scots goes forward to be seen
and heard in the future.”</p>
<p>Jenny Niven, head of Literature, Publishing and Languages at Creative
Scotland, said: “We have provided support for Scots across a range of
art forms for many years now including literature, theatre, music and
film.</p>
<p>“What this policy does, however, is provide focus for our efforts to
support the language in all its variants and dialects, generating a
sense of renewed energy and intent. We are particularly pleased to be
working in partnership with the National Library of Scotland to host the
new Scots Scriever role which will further support the work to support
Scots undertaken by us and many other organisations.”</p>
<p>Dr John Scally, National Librarian at the National Library of
Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be working with Creative Scotland
in creating this exciting new writing role, as part of our continuing
commitment to the Scots language.</p>
<p>“Our collections are rich in Scots and include some of the earliest
examples of written Scots through to writers such as Robert Burns, Hugh
MacDiarmid and, in more recent times, Irvine Welsh.”</p>
<p><strong>ENDS</strong></p>
<p><strong>Notes to Editors</strong></p>
<p>Creative Scotland’s Scots Language Policy is published today, 3 June, and can be found here: <a href="http://www.creativescotland.com/what-we-do/latest-news/archive/2015/06/scots-language-policy-published" target="_blank">http://www.creativescotland.com/what-we-do/latest-news/archive/2015/06/scots-language-policy-published</a></p>
<p>Details on the Scots Screiver role including how to apply can be found here: <a href="http://www.nls.uk/scriever-residency" target="_blank">http://www.nls.uk/scriever-residency</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.nls.uk/scriever-residencie" target="_blank">http://www.nls.uk/scriever-residencie</a></p>
<p>The role of Scots Scriever is jointly supported by Creative Scotland,
with funding of £50,000, and the National Library of Scotland who will
host the role, provide administrative support and access to their Scots
archive.</p>
<p>This is a unique type of writer residency with a high level of public
engagement, a creative response to Scots collections at the National
Library of Scotland, and regular ongoing output in Scots all required
throughout the tenure.</p>
<p>The purpose of the Scriever residency is specifically:</p>
<ul><li>to produce original, creative work in Scots (any variant or dialect) in any genre or discipline throughout the tenure</li><li>to have explicit responsibility for raising the profile,
understanding and appreciation of creative work in the Scots language,
including that held within the National Library’s collections. The
residency runs for a period of two years, based at the National Library,
with an approximate engagement of one week per month throughout that
time. It is anticipated that around 50 per cent of the time will be
spent on producing new creative work and 50 per cent on the profile
raising/public engagement aspect of the role. Applicants are encouraged
from across Scotland; a travel bursary is available as part of the role.</li></ul>
<p><strong>For further information, please contact:</strong></p>
<p>Kenneth Fowler, Director of Communications<br>
07970 557 960<br>
<a href="mailto:Kenneth.fowler@creativescotland.com" target="_blank">Kenneth.fowler@creativescotland.com</a></p>
<p>Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen
and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of
everyone who lives, works or visits here. We do this through funding,
development, advocacy and influence and we distribute funding from the
Scottish Government and the National Lottery.</p>
<p>We want Scotland to be a country where excellence and experimentation
across the arts, screen and creative industries is recognised and
valued; everyone can access and enjoy artistic and creative experiences;
places and quality of life are transformed through imagination,
ambition and an understanding of the potential of creativity; ideas are
brought to life by a diverse, skilled and connected leadership and
workforce; Scotland is a distinctive creative nation connected to the
world.</p>
<p>For further information on Creative Scotland please visit <a href="http://www.creativescotland.com">www.creativescotland.com</a>.</p>
<p>Follow us @creativescots and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland</a>.</p>
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<p>Creative Scotland contact details…</p>
<p><strong>Contact:</strong> Kenneth Fowler</p><p><a href="http://www.allmediascotland.com/media-releases/101282/media-release-creative-scotland-publishes-its-policy-for-scots-language/">http://www.allmediascotland.com/media-releases/101282/media-release-creative-scotland-publishes-its-policy-for-scots-language/</a><br></p><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
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