Applications for new Scots Scriever now open
PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR SCOTS VERSION OF PRESS RELEASE
Following on from the success of the first ever Scots Scriever residency at the National Library of Scotland, applications are once again open for a two-year residency.
A joint initiative between the Library and Creative Scotland, the role is designed 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.
National Librarian Dr John Scally said:
“We are delighted to once again offer this exciting writing role. Our collections include some of the earliest examples of written Scots, which serve as a rich source of inspiration for contemporary writers in this field.
“The chosen scriever will be working throughout 2019, which is the UN’s International Year of Indigenous Languages. This highlights the importance of our continued commitment to the Scots language as an intrinsic part of our heritage.”
The first-ever recipient of the residency, Hamish MacDonald said:
“The Scots Scriever residency offered an opportunity to research the National Library's incredible collections and to share these across the world through our Wee Windaes website.
“We took our workshops to schools from the Borders to the Highlands, into Scotland's inner cities, visiting festivals, community centres and libraries along the way.
“The residency showed how across the generations, when given the chance, the public is keen to learn about and to write and converse in their indigenous language. We need more resources and further ventures such as the Scots Scriever residency to keep Scots in its rightful place – alive and kicking.”
Jenny Niven, Head of Literature, Publishing and Languages at Creative Scotland said:
“The Scots language is a vital part of our cultural life, spoken by more than 30% of Scotland’s population, according to the 2011 Census. Creative Scotland is committed to the development of the language and to supporting writers and artists to use the language to its fullest creative potential.
“The Scriever role is a unique opportunity to do so, whilst engaging with some of the richest resources we have in written Scots via the National Library. Our aims for this new residency include a higher public profile for the Scots language, and the creation of new, high quality work in any of Scotland’s many variations of Scots.”
The Scots Scriever role will involve a high level of public engagement and the chosen applicant will work closely with the Scots collections at the Library.
The residency runs for a period of two years with an approximate engagement of one week per month throughout that time. It is anticipated that the time will be evenly split between producing new creative work and the public engagement aspect of the role.
The selection process and interviews of shortlisted applicants will take place early June, with the appointment beginning in mid-June.
Applicants must submit a CV, one reference, two examples of written work and a cover letter (no more than a page) outlining how you propose to approach the role of Scots Scriever. Applications can be emailed to scriever@nls.uk
Applications close on Monday 28 May at 5pm.
For more detailed information about the residency, visit the National Library of Scotland website.
Applications fir new Scots Scriever noo open
Follaein oan fae the success o the first ivver Scots Scriever residency at the National Library o Scotland, applications ir wance ageen open fir a twa-year residency.
A joint initiative atween the National Library an Creative Scotland, the role is designed tae mak original creative wark in Scots, its variants an dialects, across ony art-form, as weel as raisin awareness, appreciation an uiss o Scots across the country an amongst aw pairts o the population.
National Librarian Dr John Scally said:
“We are delighted to once again offer this exciting writing role. Our collections include some of the earliest examples of written Scots, which serve as a rich source of inspiration for contemporary writers in this field.
“The chosen scriever will be working throughout 2019, which is the UN’s International Year of Indigenous Languages. This highlights the importance of our continued commitment to the Scots language as an intrinsic part of our heritage.”
The first-ivver recipient o the residency, Hamish MacDonald said:
“The term as Scots Scriever gied opportuinity tae reenge amang the Naitional Leebrar's byous hairstin o Scots literatur an tae kythe these tae the warld through oor Wee Windaes wabsteid. Warkshops saw us gang on carrants tae schuils frae the Borders tae the Heilans, intae the hert o Scotland's cities, drappin in on festivals, community centres an libraries alang the wey.
“The residency shawed hou ootower the generations, when gien the chance, fowk in Scotland are ettlesome tae lairn aboot an tae scrieve an crack in ther ain tung. We need mair venturs sic as the Scots Scriever residency tae haud Scots in its richtfu place - tae the fore an hauden its ain.”
Jenny Niven, Head o Literature, Publishin an Languages at Creative Scotland said:
“The Scots language is a vital part of our cultural life, spoken by more than 30% of Scotland’s population, according to the 2011 Census. Creative Scotland is committed to the development of the language and to supporting writers and artists to use the language to its fullest creative potential.
“The Scriever role is a unique opportunity to do so, whilst engaging with some of the richest resources we have in written Scots via the National Library. Our aims for this new residency include a higher public profile for the Scots language, and the creation of new, high quality work in any of Scotland’s many variations of Scots.”
The Scots Scriever role will involve a high level o public engagement an the chosen applicant will wirk closely wi the Scots collections at the Library.
The residency’ll gae oan fir twa year, wi an approximate engagement o wan week ivvery month ower that time. It is anticipated that the time will be evenly split atween makkin new creative wark an the public engagement side o the role.
The selection process an interviews o shortlistit applicants’ll tak place in airly June, wi the appointment beginnin in mid-June.
Applicants must submit a CV, yin reference, twa examples o written wark an a cover letter (nae mair as a page) ootlinin how you propose tae approach the role o Scots Scriever. Applications can be emailed tae scriever@nls.uk
Applications close on Monday 28 May at 5pm.
Fir mair detailed infirmation aboot the residency, veesit the National Library o Scotland website.
Contact Information
Notes to editors
The National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland is a major European research library and one of the world’s leading centres for the study of Scotland and the Scots - an information treasure trove for Scotland’s knowledge, history and culture.
The Library’s collections are of world-class importance. Key areas include digital material, rare books, manuscripts, maps, music, moving images, official publications, business information, science and technology, and modern and foreign collections.
The Library holds more than 26 million physical items dating back over 1000 years in addition to a growing library of e-books, e-journals and other digital material. The collection includes more than four million books, eight million manuscripts, two million maps and more than 45,000 films and videos. Every week the Library collects around 3,000 new items. Most of these are received free of charge in terms of Legal Deposit legislation.