In an era where high-speed communication and global connectivity are an irrepressible part of daily life, it may seem somewhat anachronistic or nostalgic to think of community broadcasting as a powerful medium. After all, with their limited ranges and resources, locally based radio or television stations are no match for the far and wide broadcast power of corporate or public media empires. But it is exactly this restriction to a grassroots existence that gives community radio and television its unique edge. Bound to local audiences and producers, it has the power to present content that connects to, and in many ways defines, a community.
This was one of the ideas raised in a recent discussion between the Vancouver artist Brian Jungen and the Vancouver-based curator and art historian Juan Gaitán on the often overlooked potential of community radio. This dialogue was presented by Artspeak as part of Speakeasy: Frontierism, the third edition of its annual forum series devoted to ideas of civic space and the urban frontier. In this audio excerpt recorded on March 27, 2008, Jungen and Gaitán offer thoughts on a shared fascination with the social, cultural and artistic possibilities of community radio. Jungen is currently at work on a project to bring local AM broadcasts back to his Dunne-za First Nations reserve near Fort St. John, British Columbia, while Gaitán has organized urban and rural radio collaborations with artists and community groups in his native Colombia. (Running time 34 minutes 18 seconds)
For more on the Speakeasy series, including a full program description and list of participants in March’s two-day forum, see www.artspeak.ca/exhibitions/event_detail.html?event_id=199
