This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scottish Book Award winners
06/06/2002
The author Ali Smith, from Inverness, has received the
inaugural Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year Award for
her second novel, Hotel World.
The Children's Book of the Year Award went to Alison
Prince, an Arran-based writer, for Oranges and Murder, a
mystery story set in Dickensian London.
Speaking at the award ceremony in Edinburgh, Deputy
Culture Minister, Dr Elaine Murray said:
"Scotland has an unrivalled history of literary
distinction, and these awards show that we have as much to
be excited about in the present and future of Scottish
writing.
"Book reading is not only competing against other forms
of entertainment, but also against a mass of other printed
media. Sometimes we need to be reminded how satisfying and
rewarding it can be to read.
"The Scottish Book Awards are a way of getting books
into the hands of potential readers. The awards profile
some of the best Scottish books that will bring inspiration
to adults and children alike."
There were a total of six awards given in the two
categories. Book of the Year took £10,000, and Children's
Book £5000. The other four shortlisted writers - Peter
Burnett, Meaghan Delahunt, Julia Donaldson, and Debi Gliori
- received £2000.
Dr Murray continued:
"We are determined to maintain Scotland as a land of
literature, and a nation of great storytellers. Improving
reading skills can make a huge difference to people,
offering self confidence and job prospects, as well as
helping them to play a fuller part in family and community
life."
The Scottish Arts Council has recently announced extra
funding for literary festivals across Scotland, together
with a £27,000 boost for storytelling projects.
The Executive's National Cultural Strategy promotes the
social benefits of culture and the important strengths of
creativity as a resource in education and lifelong
learning. The National Cultural Strategy was launched in
August 2000 to provide a comprehensive framework of action
to underpin the development of Scotland's cultural life to
2004. Its four strategic objectives are to:
- promote creativity
- celebrate Scotland's cultural heritage
- realise culture's potential contributions to
education, social inclusion and enhancing people's
quality of life, and
- assure an effective national support framework for
culture.