Hands Up for Trad’s Women in Music and Culture 2025 list has been announced to celebrate just some of the women working in Scotland.
Launched as part of International Women’s Day 2025, we shine the spotlight on 12 women who all contribute towards Scotland’s cultural landscape through their work. Read the 2025 list here.
We asked Michelle Shields to tell us more about her work, influences and ambitions for the future.
How did you first get involved in the arts and who were your early influences?
I started my journey into the arts by being lucky enough to attend concerts and gigs from a very young age – including attending HebCelt, which took place practically on my door step. I decided to study Entertainment and Events management at University and was fortunate enough to then start working at HebCelt Festival and Celtic Connections which furthered my interest in being involved in the arts and celtic music events in particular.
I was in awe of the work and passion that went into these events, particularly by Caroline Maclennan who was (is still) HebCelt – it simply wouldn’t exist without her.
After completing my course in University I then started working for Active Events – run by Lisa Whytock, who was also a huge influence on me, and I haven’t looked back.
In a time when many artists and creative professionals are facing significant challenges, how have you developed and evolved your creative practice over the past few years?
By communicating – talking to other like minded people, overcoming obstacles together. Coming up with new ways of doing things, whether that’s changing the way we communicate with our audience – acknowledging the power in social media. Offering new ways for our audience to consume the arts, you need to learn how to move and adapt to current trends and lifestyles.
Who or what interests you creatively?
I don’t have a definitive answer to this one, what might interest me one day could change the next. Something as simple as going for a walk somewhere new can spark on idea or new interest.
I am also the mother of a toddler – watching him grow and learn, discovering things for the first time can also give you a different outlook and perspective. Listening to music – all kinds, across lots of genres.
What are your plans for the next year or so and/or what are your longer term creative ambitions?
Survive, haha! Or should I say, thrive!
Keeping up with what our audience want and expect from us and delivering that to them. Seeing our festival site light up with thousands or smiling faces, people enjoying themselves and the music is what it’s all about and the reason that we do it.
Find out more about Michelle Shields here.
Read the Hands Up for Trad’s Women in Music and Culture 2024 List
Hands Up for Trad are an organisation who work with Scottish traditional music, language and culture. If you would like to support our work you can donate here.