The former boss of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Edinburgh Napier University on Thursday.
She is now Chair of the International Fund for Ireland supporting peace-building in Northern Ireland and the border counties.
She was in post in Edinburgh for nine years, and was succeeded by Tony Lankester, the new Chief Executive.
During her period in office, Dr McCarthy secured multi-millions of funding from the UK Government for the Fringe to take over the former South Bridge Resource Centre on Infirmary Street which is just opening this summer. It will be a centre for the Society and also for artists during the festival.
Shona McCarthy said: “I loved my time in beautiful Edinburgh and all the challenges and joys of the Fringe.
“I continue to champion this extraordinary event and all Edinburgh’s Festivals wherever I go.
“I am thrilled to receive this honour from Edinburgh Napier, it was a privilege to work with brilliant colleagues from the University.
“I am such a believer in the powerful connection, community, and all round good for humanity that comes through our festivals and live performance and the wider arts, so being recognised for doing something that I do so wholeheartedly is a huge privilege.”
Dr David Jarman of The Business School at Edinburgh Napier University said: “Anyone who witnessed Shona McCarthy launching a Fringe programme, or sitting on an industry conference panel, will have seen the commitment she has to promoting festivals and creative events in Edinburgh and elsewhere. Her energy is infectious.
“Shona can make a case for the value of the arts, and I suspect she does so on a frequent basis to various audiences.
“She is also a standard bearer for culture, as a platform for the expression and discussion of human values.
“Shona has long been supportive of our work at Edinburgh Napier, contributing to research projects, employing students on summer placements, and taking up the role of Visiting Professor while in post as Fringe Society CEO.
“We look forward to continued collaborations with both Shona and the Fringe Society.”
ENU’s summer graduation ceremonies are being held at the Usher Hall between 8-10 July.
