Beat Carnival announces leadership handover

ANDREW LORETTO has been appointed chief executive and artistic director of Beat Carnival.

Loretto takes up post with the Northern Irish carnival producer in August, succeeding founder and director DAVID BOYD.

A director, writer, dramaturg and producer for performance and theatre, Loretto is currently the director of the outdoor arts festival Hat Fair and Playmakers, for Play to the Crowd, Winchester.

Boyd said: “It’s fantastic for me to have an inspirational quality of hope and confidence when handing over this quite unique role. I have no doubt that Andrew, with his qualities, will immediately be at home in the big Beat family, while opening new, marvellous vistas for future-Beat.”

Loretto added, “Having worked in the Outdoor Arts sector all over the UK and internationally, I can’t wait to bring my experiences to Belfast and the brilliant team at Beat Carnival.

“Having grown up in Northern Ireland at a very different time in its history, I look forward to returning home and celebrating the joy, colour, diversity of local, national and international communities on our streets and spaces.”