A scriever is being sought, in what is a first for Scotland, to support the use of the Scots language across the country.

It is the result of a joint initiative between the National Library of Scotland and Creative Scotland. Applications open today for the role which 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.

The successful candidate will be awarded a two-year residency, based at the National Library with funding from Creative Scotland.

This was announced today at the National Library by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs. She said: 'The Scottish Government's ambition is for the Scots language to be recognised, valued and used in Scottish public and community life. 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.'

Creative Scotland also published its first Scots language policy at the event which underlines the organisation's commitment to supporting the language through its own work and the work it funds across the arts, screen and creative industries.

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.

National Librarian Dr John Scally said: 'We are delighted to be working with Creative Scotland in offering this exciting new writing role, as part of our continuing commitment to the Scots language. 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.'

The author James Robertson, whose novels contain prominent use of Scots and who has also translated a number of books for children and young people into Scots, welcomed both the scriever role and Creative Scotland's new policy.

He said the initiative 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. I hope this policy encourages creative individuals and organisations throughout the land to engage with Scots in all kinds of ways. 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.'

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3 June 2015