Saltire Society
The Saltire Society, also called Saltire Society Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Cumann Crann na h-Alba) is a membership organisation which aims to promote the understanding of the culture and heritage of Scotland, founded in 1936. The society organises lectures and publishes pamphlets, and presents a series of awards in the fields of art, architecture, literature and history.[1]
History
[edit]The society was founded on 22 April 1936 in Glasgow, conceived by Andrew Dewar Gibb and George Malcolm Thomson,[2][3][4] at which time the annual subscription cost five shillings.[3] The society was "set up to promote and celebrate the uniqueness of Scottish culture and Scotland's heritage, and to reclaim Scotland's place as a distinct contributor to European and international culture".[5]
By the early 1950s, the society had almost 2000 members.[6] In 1954 they launched a literary magazine, The Scots Review, published three times a year.[7] In 1968 the society appointed their first full-time director, based at their headquarters at Gladstone's Land in Edinburgh.[8] In 2001, the Saltire Society's head, Scott Peake, stepped down after newspaper investigations revealed that he had fabricated parts of his biography, including his alleged Scottish upbringing.[9][10] In November 2012, ahead of the Scottish Independence referendum, the society looked to relaunch itself with a business plan that included lectures and debates centered around cultural issues.[11] Past presidents include Eric Linklater, architect Robert Matthew, architect Robert Hurd and literary scholar David Daiches.[12]
The Saltire Music Group was founded by composer Isobel Dunlop in 1950.[citation needed]
Description and activities
[edit]The Saltire Society is headquartered in Edinburgh, with branches in Aberdeen, Dumfries, Glasgow, Helensburgh, the Highlands, Kirriemuir, and New York City.[citation needed]
In June 2018, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews, Sally Mapstone, was appointed as president of the society.[13]
The society organises lectures and publishes pamphlets, and presents a series of awards in the fields of art, architecture, literature and history.[14]
Awards
[edit]The Saltire Awards is a collective name for a series of awards presented by the Saltire Society in recognition of contributions to Scotland's cultural heritage. These include:
- Scotland's National Book Awards, formerly known as the Saltire Society Literary Awards, "the oldest... awards for Scottish based authors in their home nation"[15]
- National Scottish Song Competition, established in 1980 to encourage young people to participate in traditional singing.[16]
- Arts and Crafts in Architecture Award[citation needed][17]
- Saltire Society Civil Engineering Awards, awarded in association with the Institution of Civil Engineers[18][19]
- Saltire Society Housing Design Awards[20]
- Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun Award, established in 1988, presented in recognition of "a significant contribution made to Scottish culture"[18]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Saltire Society". The Saltire Society. 26 October 2025.
- ^ Scott, Paul Henderson (2003). Scotland Resurgent: Comments on the Cultural and Political Revival of Scotland. The Saltire Society. p. 199. ISBN 9780854110834.
- ^ a b Brown, Rob (22 April 1986). "Shielding our cultural candle for fifty years". The Glasgow Herald. p. 11. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ^ "Saltire milestone". The Glasgow Herald. 23 April 1986. p. 5. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ^ "Report of the Saltire Commission" (PDF). Saltire Society. 2011. p. 7.
- ^ "Saltire Society's National View". The Glasgow Herald. 30 June 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ^ "New Scots Magazine". The Glasgow Herald. 2 April 1954. p. 5. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ^ "Director of Saltire Society". The Glasgow Herald. 26 February 1968. p. 12. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ^ Demetriou, Danielle (7 October 2013). "Goodbye, Mr Fake: Teacher forced to quit Bedales after exposure as a serial fantasist". The Independent. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ Standard, Alexa Baracaia, Evening (13 April 2012). "Fantasist teacher leaves Bedales". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Miller, Phil (15 November 2012). "Saltire Society revamp in bid to inspire debate in run-up to independence poll". The Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ^ "President Saltire Society". Saltire Society. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- ^ "New President Announced". Saltire Society. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
- ^ "Saltire Society Awards". Saltire Society. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- ^ "Saltire Society Literature Awards". Saltire Society. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ "Saltire Society Song Awards". Saltire Society. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ Building Our Legacy; accessed 2025-07-06
- ^ a b "Saltire Society Awards". Saltire Society. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ "Coveted symbol of excellence". The Glasgow Herald. 27 November 1991. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ "Architecture". Saltire Society. 19 November 2013. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
External links
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