A Moray arts celebration has been shortlisted as part of a national awards ceremony taking place in Glasgow tonight.
The Findhorn Bay Festival is a finalist in the Cultural Event of the Year category at the Culture Awards.
The annual ceremony seeks to recognise the best of Scottish arts, with 15 different awards being handed out.
The Moray event, which only held its second biennial instalment in 2016, will be judged alongside famous counterparts such as Glasgow’s Celtic Connections and the Belladrum Tartan Heart music festivals.
The director of Findhorn Bay Arts, Kresanna Aigner, said she already felt like a winner – regardless of whether she leaves the bash with an award or not.
She added: “The whole team is thrilled that the Findhorn Bay Festival is a finalist.
“Just to be recognised nationally for the success of the festival is fantastic for the event and for promoting Moray as a go-to cultural destination.”
A spokeswoman for the Moray Speyside Tourism group added: “Our reputation as a home for high-quality cultural events is growing – and fundamental to this is the renowned Findhorn Bay Festival.
“By attracting visitors from across the world, it has undoubtedly contributed to the growth in visitors coming here.”
The festival itself boosted the local economy by £875,000 last September, with almost 14,000 visitors flocking to take in shows at scenic locations around Forres.
Nearly 20% of attendees travelled from other parts of Scotland, and international guests came from as far afield as America, Australia, Germany and Italy.
The event featured 100 visiting artists, 185 local artists and 171 young performers.
The winner will be revealed along with the other Culture Awards finalists at the SWG3 arts venue in Glasgow.
