‘LOVE SUMMER? WE MAKE IT HAPPEN!’
Meet the women behind some of our favourite events
Sporting spectacles, much-needed getaways, fabulous food and festivals filled with laughter – there’s a lot to love about this time of year. Arielle Tchiprout speaks to the women behind the most talked-about events of the summer Shona Mccarthy is chief executive of Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, the organisation behind the world’s largest arts festival.
To me, art offers a different way of seeing things: it’s about having a unique voice and exploring your creativity. It doesn’t have to be a painting in the National Gallery or a play by Shakespeare; art can just as easily be a hilarious piece of stand-up comedy or a Lady Gaga song. It’s anything that makes people think or laugh or fills them with joy. This is why I love running Edinburgh Fringe: it celebrates art in all its forms and brings people together.
I grew up in Northern Ireland. My dad was a bricklayer, while Mum stayed at home with the kids. My brilliant English and art teachers encouraged my natural interest in literature, music and painting. After gaining a degree in film and media, I applied for around 150 jobs in the arts industry, everything from journalism to working in theatres. I could have plastered my walls with rejection letters! But
finally, I landed my first job, which was on a children’s film festival in Belfast.
Starting off as a curator, I helped choose and organise acts and eventually moved on to become director of Foyle Film Festival in Derry. The role was incredibly varied, from putting together the programme to raising the money and making sure the fire extinguishers were hung properly. With this breadth of experience, I was qualified to lead Belfast’s bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2001. I was so committed, but unfortunately we didn’t win.
However, in 2013, I became chief executive of the Culture Company in Derry, leading the first UK City of Culture. That was one of my proudest experiences and it showed you can learn from not winning and come back stronger.
I travelled all over the world as a self-employed culture consultant when the Edinburgh Fringe job became available. At that time, I was based in Derry and my daughters, Toraigh and Dara, were both doing their A levels, but I couldn’t ignore the opportunity. I’d always loved the Fringe; it’s open access, so anyone can perform if they can secure a venue, which is in line with my politics and values, and I was over the moon to be offered the job.
Edinburgh Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival: there were 3,548 shows and 56,796 performances last year. The atmosphere in the city is electric, but a lot of work happens behind the scenes. It’s almost like a birthing process: when one festival finishes, we start reviewing what needs to be done differently for next year. We then analyse and make changes to everything, from the website experience to the ticketing system. In January, artists begin registering shows and, for the next few months, we’ll be busy putting everything in place, ready for the start of the festival.
I try to see as many shows as I can, prioritising cutting-edge theatre. There’s an element of community in Edinburgh and everyone is there to have a brilliant time and support artists. It’s lovely to see.
My work mantra is that you can do great things if you don’t care who gets the credit. For me, it’s not about money, it’s all about feeling fulfilled. If you wake up every day doing something you love, then there’s nothing better.’
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019 runs from 2-26 August
‘Anyone can perform at Edinburgh Fringe if they get a venue. I love that’
There’s nothing better than doing something you love every day