By Rose Laudicina
Staff Writer
Starting Labor Day 2012, WCOM will be broadcasting out of a new location, and The ArtsCenter will have a new partner to help it reach a broader audience through art and entertainment.
WCOM 103.5 FM community radio is moving into The ArtsCenter, as the two organizations form a partnership that promises to be mutually beneficial, and to be a boon to the arts community at large as well.
“It seemed like all of the stars were aligned for this to happen,†ArtsCenter executive director Art Menius said.
Menius said the idea to form a partnership with WCOM came from a simple conversation.
“We had great interest in working with WCOM,†Menius said. “Working with radio production and broadcasting, we could expand the offering in the arts school.â€
This idea quickly snowballed into a reality when he and Jacques Menache, founder of The ArtsCenter and WCOM, spoke to their board members and were able to work out an agreement in just a couple of months.
“We are both creative nonprofits,†Menius said. ““It seemed like a very natural partnership.â€
“It just makes sense for WCOM and The ArtsCenter to work hand-in-hand,†Menache said in an email.
Through this new collaboration, The ArtsCenter will be able to add radio broadcasting, radio theater, news reporting and interviewing to their list of class offerings.
“Classes in radio production will create new programmers for our station,†Menache said. “We can build a core of citizen broadcasters and journalists.â€
Additionally, although perhaps not right away, the two organizations hope to develop live broadcasts of shows, specifically concerts at The ArtsCenter.
“The performing arts presented at The ArtsCenter will provide remarkable content for radio that can be distributed to other stations,†Menache said.
Menius hopes that through this new art medium, The ArtsCenter will be able to reach a broader audience with its services and events.
For the time being though, the main focus in kick-starting the partnership is getting the radio station set up in the new space.
WCOM is planning on moving into the East End Gallery of The ArtsCenter and converting it into three separate spaces for the operation: one for production, another for offices and the third for an on-air broadcasting room.
Since The ArtsCenter is providing the space, which is an upgrade from the radio station’s current location at 208 E. Main St., it’s WCOM’s responsibility to raise the money for the construction and renovation.
WCOM is running a campaign to help finance the move, asking 100 “friends of WCOM†to give $100 each. Additional private donations will help fund the construction, to take place over the summer, and both Menius and Menache anticipate the station being firmly in place and ready to broadcast by Sept. 1.
“I think it is really exciting that two cultural nonprofits of the same community are going to be working together for the greater good,†Menius said.
“It is a partnership for the entire community.â€
As a volunteer DJ at WCOM, I personally want to thank Art and the Artscenter organization for making this happen! It will indeed be a great collaboration and we can’t wait to get into our new digs. Thanks again!