Join us for an honest, inspiring and deeply human talk with Shona McCarthy as she reflects on a life spent working at the heart of the cultural sector, at home and internationally.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Shona will share her personal journey through the arts and cultural industries, the opportunities seized, the hurdles jumped, and the hard-earned lessons learned along the way. She will speak candidly about moments of real challenge and despair, balanced with the joy, pride, and purpose that come from delivering ambitious festivals and events that bring people together.
Shona will explore what it takes to build and sustain creative work over time: navigating pressure, leadership, funding realities, risk, resilience, and belief in the value of culture. Despite the challenges, she reflects on why she would choose this path again and what continues to motivate her work today.
The talk will conclude with an open Q&A, where Shona is happy to offer practical advice and generous insights drawn from her experience delivering major cultural projects both locally and internationally.
Who This Talk Is For: This session is ideal for artists, producers, technicians, cultural workers, and anyone curious about the realities, and rewards, of a life in the cultural sector.
Shona McCarthy is the first female Chairperson of the International Fund for Ireland, an appointment made jointly by the UK and Irish governments in March 2025. The IFI was established in 1986 to support peace-building initiatives in the North and border counties of Ireland. Shona was the Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society for the last 9 years. She championed the Edinburgh Fringe as the world’s leading performing arts festival and expo, founded on the principles of inclusion and freedom of expression. From 2011-2014 she was Chief Executive of the Culture Company, leading on Derry-Londonderry’s transformational year as UK City of Culture. Prior to that she was Director of the British Council Northern Ireland. She headed up Imagine Belfast and delivered Belfast’s bid to be European Capital of Culture. She also spent many years as Chief Executive of Cinemagic Film Festival for young people, Belfast; and the Foyle Film Festival, Derry; and was Head of Exhibition at the Northern Ireland Film Council. Shona has over 35 years working in senior leadership positions and was awarded a prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship for Innovation in 2014, making her part of a global network of leaders and influencers, and a NESTA cultural leadership award which took her to work with the Seagull Foundation for the Arts in Calcutta India in 2007. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Queen Margaret’s University for her contribution to the creative arts in 2025. She is an Honorary Fellow of Surrey University. A visiting Professor at Napier Univeristy and an Honorary Fellow of the Marketing Society of Scotland.
Age 16+.
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