Beat Carnival has been embarking on an exciting new chapter under the leadership of Artistic Director~Chief Executive, Andrew Loretto. Returning to Belfast after 36 years working across England, Scotland and Wales, Andrew brings with him a wealth of international experience as a director, writer and producer, and a clear vision for the future of one of Northern Ireland’s leading carnival arts organisations.
Andrew, who has been in post since August 2025, joined Beat Carnival following his role as Director of Hat Fair and Playmakers, for Play to the Crowd, Winchester, where he led one of the UK’s longest running international outdoor arts festivals. His passion for outdoor, place-based work aligns closely with Beat Carnival’s ethos of transforming public spaces into inclusive, creative environments that reflect the voices and identities of local communities.
Since taking up his role, Andrew’s priority has been to connect with communities, artists and partners, listening, learning and building on Beat Carnival’s strong legacy. He has also focused on strengthening collaboration across the arts sector by actively building relationships with local organisations as well as engaging nationally and internationally to expand opportunities for Northern Irish artists.
A key highlight this year is Beat Carnival’s enhanced partnership with Belfast Pride, which celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2026 under the theme Love in Every Colour. Beat Carnival will provide opportunities for community participants aged 18+ to take part in the celebration and create a carnival float to lead the parade.
Following that, Beat Carnival will perform at a music performance event as part of the city centre fringe programme in August when Belfast hosts Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for the first ever time.
Beyond Belfast, Andrew is committed to expanding Beat’s reach into rural and coastal communities. Building on the success of last year’s Beach of Dreams~Our Siren Song programme in the Ards Peninsula, the organisation is continuing to deliver coastal carnival workshops this Summer, ensuring people can engage creatively within their own communities.
At the heart of Andrew’s vision is a deep commitment to inclusion, access and co-creation. He is focused on developing opportunities for emerging artists while strengthening long-term community relationships. He also sees collaboration as key to sustainability and impact across sectors including arts, environment and urban development.
Recent achievements by Beat Carnival include a prestigious commission from Notting Hill Carnival to create large-scale carnival puppets, demonstrating the strength of Northern Ireland’s creative talent on an international stage and opening new avenues for artists from the region.
Andrew has recently joined the board of ISACS (Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network), further promoting Northern Irish artists, and contributes to key local strategic groups including the Belfast Stories panel and the Creative Shankill Task Group, further embedding Beat Carnival within the cultural sector.
Looking ahead, Beat Carnival is exploring the development of a brand new large-scale event in Belfast; an ambitious, collaborative project that would bring together multiple organisations and sectors to animate the city’s public spaces in new and exciting ways.
Alongside its artistic ambitions, the organisation is committed to the sustainability and physical development of its home at the Beat Carnival Centre in North Belfast. Solar panels and energy efficient lighting have been installed and there are plans for further investment to improve the centre’s sustainability and offer.
Andrew Loretto, Artistic Director~ Chief Executive said:
“Coming back to Belfast and Northern Ireland after so long has been incredibly inspiring. There is such energy, creativity and diversity here. Beat Carnival has always been about bringing people together in shared, celebratory spaces, and my focus has been on opening doors wider, creating opportunities for artists, communities and young leaders to find their place in the sector and to be part of something extraordinary. Beat Carnival was founded on the idea of creating safe, shared spaces where everyone feels welcome, and that mission feels more important than ever. Whether it’s on the streets of Belfast, waterways or coastal areas, our work is about celebrating humanity, places and spaces, with diverse voices seen and heard. The future is increasingly about working together with partners to create joyful, inclusive and meaningful public experiences.”
