Professor Jackie Kay named as Scotland鈥檚 Makar Published on: 15 March 2016 Professor Jackie Kay MBE has been announced as Scotland鈥檚 new Makar, the National Poet for Scotland. The voice of poetry The role will see her create new work and promote poetry throughout Scotland, particularly encouraging young people to engage with the art form. Jackie said: “It's a tremendous honour to be chosen as Scotland's new Makar, following in the footsteps of such wonderful poets as Edwin Morgan and Liz Lochhead. “As Robert Burns demonstrated, poetry holds up a unique mirror to a nation's heart, mind and soul. It is the pure language that tells us who we are. “I hope to open up the conversations, the blethers, the arguments and celebrations that Scotland has with itself and with the rest of the world, using the voice of poetry in its fine Scottish delivery.” Jackie, who is Professor of Creative Writing at the University, is a key contributor to the (NCLA) and the . Dr James Annesley, Head of School, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Jackie has been recognised by Scotland in this way - she’s such a fantastic writer and a major figure in contemporary British Culture.” Professor Jackie Kay MBE Poignant and honest words The announcement was made by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Scottish Poetry Library, where Jackie read one of her own poems, ‘’. Ms Sturgeon said: “Poetry is part of Scotland’s culture and history, it celebrates our language and can evoke strong emotions and memories in all of us. “The role of the Makar is to celebrate our poetic past, promote the poetry of today and produce new pieces of work that relate to significant events in our nation. "Jackie Kay’s poems sometimes deal with challenging subjects, taken from her own life experiences, and she has a particular Scottish brand of gallus humour. “She is hugely respected, is known for her poignant and honest words, and is a role model for many, and I am delighted to name her as the new National Poet for Scotland.” Jackie Kay was awarded an MBE in 2006 for her services to literature and was recently elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Her memoir, 'Red Dust Road’ was awarded the prestigious Scottish Book of the Year in 2011 and was one of 20 books to be selected for World Book Night in 2013. Share: Latest News Scientists unlock hidden driver of inflammatory bowel disease Scientists have linked a key genetic signal in inflammatory bowel disease to an immune response that shuts down inflammation control, enabling faster diagnosis and targeted treatments. published on: 15 June 2026 Funding system risks limiting genuine community collaboration A new policy paper written by researchers at 麻豆传媒 warns that the way UK research is funded may be undermining efforts to create genuinely collaborative partnerships with communities. published on: 15 June 2026 Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from 麻豆传媒 to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Facts and figures
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