In Conversation with Shona McCarthy
In Conversation with Shona McCarthy
Shona will talk about her life in the cultural sector, the hurdles jumped, lessons learned, moments of despair and joy and why she would do it all again. She will answer questions and is happy to give helpful insights on her experience of delivering festivals and events both home and abroad.
Talk Description
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.
In-Person
This will happen at Accidental in the Theatre, in the Ground Floor theatre.
Remote
This will happen over Zoom, you will be able to see and hear the talk and ask questions remotely.
Facilitator - Shona McCarthy
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.
Talk to The Professionals
Accidental’s Talk to the Professionals Programme empowers artists and technicians to thrive within today’s fast-changing creative industries. As digital innovation, hybrid performance models, and new production technologies reshape how work is made and shared, creative practitioners need future-focused skills that combine technical capability with bold artistic thinking.
This programme offers a practical, hands-on pathway for early- and mid-career creatives to develop those skills. Through workshops, labs, and mentorship led by experienced artists, digital specialists, and production professionals, participants gain confidence in areas such as digital performance tools, emerging media, core production practices, collaborative creation, and innovative storytelling.
Funding by the James Kane Foundation.
Course Info
In-Person
Venue: 12-13 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB
Access: Directly from Shaftesbury Square
Date(s): Sunday 29th March 2026
Starts: 2pm
Age Guidance: 18+
Run Time: 1 hour 30 mins
Disabled Access: Theatre (ground floor) is fully accessible. Toilets & Book Bar (1st floor) are accessible via a wheelchair platform lift. Carer tickets available: Call 028 9032 5881 to book.
Online
Access for the remote access will be emailed out a few days ahead, please check junk/spam folders.
Booking Info
Please book a ticket per attendee to avoid issues.
£10 - IN-PERSON TICKET - a standard ticket that gives you in-person access to watch the talk in the theatre.
£10 - REMOTE TICKET - a standard ticket that gives you online access to watch the talk from anywhere.
£20 - DONATION TICKET - a special ticket that gives a little extra to the exceptional and hardworking artists creating the event. Donation Tickets include both attendee options above.
