Swaledale Festival jobs and careers

About Swaledale Festival

Swaledale Festival is a joyful celebration of music, arts, creativity and walking in the stunning hills and dales of North Yorkshire. Founded in 1972, Swaledale Festival takes place each year in and around the three most northerly Yorkshire Dales - Swaledale, Wensleydale, and Arkengarthdale - beginning on the late May Bank Holiday and running for two wonderful weeks. Over 15 days, we present a kaleidoscope of exceptional music, alongside compelling visual art, film, literature, creative workshops, and a wealth of guided walks that explore the rich scenery, culture, and stories of the northern Dales. The Festival takes place in an array of locations across the stunning Yorkshire Dales National Park and surrounding area. Venues include tiny chapels, charming churches, homely village halls, arts centres – and of course the great outdoors. The eclectic programme includes world-class classical concerts, folk, jazz, brass, and global music. There are performances by fine young graduate musicians, as well as poetry, film, dance, drama, comedy, family events, talks, workshops, masterclasses, art exhibitions, outdoor events - and usually some surprises (think steam train trips, bat watches, archaeology and astronomy sessions!). Previous performers have included Sheku Kanneh-Mason, John Williams, Emma Kirkby, Paco Peña, Angela Hewitt, Brian Sewell, John Paul Jones, Kathryn Tickell and the Hallé Orchestra. There is a focus on the extraordinary landscape, stories and characters of the northern Dales, and an extensive outreach programme that brings high-quality arts to care home residents and young people in isolated rural communities. In 2023 the Festival announced the appointment of its first Patrons: writer, lecturer and arts advocate Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason and antiques expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan.