Corinium Radio Promotes Local Talent

Artist Laurie Plant.

Corinium Radio Promotes Local Talent

Corinium Radio is tuning in to the creativity of the Cotswolds.

Cirencester’s own community radio station is joining forces with a host of creative folk to promote and celebrate the artistic talent to be found across the region.

During the next 12 months four ‘Creatives in Residence’ will work with the local station on a variety of special projects.

The Corinium Radio ‘creatives’ will be from different artistic disciplines highlighting the wide variety of genres where talent is to be found.

They could, for example, be musicians, writers, artists, poets or makers.

The first ‘creative’ to work with the radio station is renowned local artist Laurie Plant.

Each ‘creative’ will work with the station for 3 months, and during his tenure Laurie is planning to create and donate a piece of original artwork with a local theme.  This will be auctioned by sealed bids to raise funds for Corinium Radio.

The town radio station has just been named Creatives Champion in the Cirencester Chamber of Commerce annual business awards.

Said station spokesman Tony Coleman, “We were over the moon to get the award and the idea of promoting creativity throughout the Cotswolds seemed a fitting way to mark our achievement.”

The idea for the creative link-up came from Corinium Radio chair Carole Boydell and the hope is that there will be a lasting legacy to the project at the end of the year.

One idea is to produce a ‘Creatives Tour Guide’ to the area so that locals and visitors alike are pointed towards the wide variety of artistic talent which can be found in Cirencester and the Cotswolds.

Carole said, “We decided to work with and promote creative talent locally as a direct response to winning the Chamber of  Commerce award.

Chair Carole Boydell.

“As a radio station we support all kinds of creative people and it was fantastic to win.

“However, we didn’t just want to put the award on a windowsill and celebrate amongst ourselves.

“We really wanted to mark the year in a way that involved the wider community.”

She pointed out that the money raised from the artwork auction could help set up the Creative Tour Guide to the area.

Added Carole, “This is planned to be a guide to lots of places where people can see what the area has to offer when it comes to creativity.

“Laurie is a fantastically talented artist who lives in Cirencester and whose heart is in the community – as is Corinium Radio’s.”