THE woman behind the Green Man Festival has been announced as a finalist for the St David Awards.
Fiona Stewart is the chief executive officer and owner of the Green Man Festival that takes place every August at the Glan Usk Estate, Crickhowell.
She is one of four finalists in the culture category alongside Elfed Roberts, who retired as chief executive of the National Eisteddfod last August after 25 years in post, and the Hijink Theatre Company that works across Wales and Theatr Clwyd.
The St David Awards are the national awards of Wales, which recognise the extraordinary achievements and contributions of people in, or from, Wales and from all walks of life.
Fiona said: “It’s an honour to be nominated for the St David Award for culture and I very am grateful to the people who nominated me and delighted that I am being considered.“Any success I have is really down to the wonderful friends and family who create Green Man with me. Our love and affection for Wales is shared by the people who attend Green Man events, who all agree that this is a wonderful country with many assets, the biggest of which are its people.”
First Minister Mark Drakeford announced this year’s nominees today. He said: "“Being involved with the St David Awards for the first time, I was struck by the inspiring talent Wales has across so many different areas.
“These awards are a celebration, acknowledging some amazing and remarkable people. Each of the finalists have made a significant difference – overcoming adversity and achieving something truly inspirational.
“All of our St David Awards finalists are exceptional – every person and organisation is a credit to our nation. I look forward to celebrating their achievements at the awards ceremony on March 21."
Green Man is the largest contemporary arts and science festival in Wales, and one of five remaining large independent UK music festivals.
Ms Stewart is the only woman with controlling ownership of a large commercial UK festival and in a competitive market, Green Man sells out each year, attracting 25,000 people a day from around the world to the Breconshire town. The Green Man Trust Charity was founded in 2013 and has supported 3,000 artists, trained 2,000 people, 200 science engagement projects and 27 Welsh community projects.
The St David award categories are: Bravery, Citizenship, Culture, Enterprise, Innovation, Science and Technology, International, Sport and Young Person.
Among those nominated are people who risked their own safety to save others from dangerous situations and charity volunteers and business people.
Emma Picton-Jones from Pembrokeshire who set up DPJ Foundation in 2016 after her husband Daniel, an agricultural contractor, took his own life due to struggles with his mental health, is nominated in the citizenship category.
The charity helps people in the rural community with mental health problems, especially men in the agricultural sector and began working across Powys at the beginning of this year.