REPRESENTATIVES of the Swaledale Festival, which celebrates music and the arts, have been presented with an award from the Queen.

In a ceremony at Scampston Hall, near Malton, the Swaledale Festival was presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service following the announcement of the award during this year’s festival. The award recognises both the work of volunteers for the organisation and the benefits that the Festival brings to the wider community.

Members of the panel recognised the value that the festival adds to the local community in Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale by bringing world-class artists to a deeply rural area, as well as providing performance and exhibition opportunities for emerging young performers and local artists.