Plans for new midlands hub for artists and musicians

A band manager who grew frustrated over the difficulties up-and-coming musicians face in attracting airplay is planning to establish a representative group for artists which would fund its own gallery, studio and radio station. Aughrim resident John McGrath came up with the concept for the artists' organisation, which he hopes to establish following an initial open meeting in Ballinasloe's Shearwater Hotel on February 7 next. Mr McGrath said the group would be based at a headquarters in the midlands, and this would incorporate a radio station that would play only original Irish music. The facility would also include an artists' studio and gallery, a recording studio, a TV studio complete with a 'green screen' for recording music videos, and a 'point of sale' for CD albums, videos, books, artwork and poetry. The initiative would be funded by a €2 per week membership fee which would be paid by the musicians and artists. This €2 fee would give the artists "unlimited access" to facilities at the headquarters of the new organisation. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, Mr McGrath, an ex-musician who now manages a small number of local groups, said he was working on the initiative in a voluntary capacity and his sole aim was to provide an outlet for talented artists who are struggling to showcase their work through established media channels. "This idea was a product of pure anger and frustration over the difficulties bands and songwriters are facing at the moment," he said. "There are so many talented people out there. We are punching way above our weight in terms of the Arts, but it's being completely ignored by stations that belong to you and me." He said "unless an artist is already an international star" it was virtually impossible to get one of their songs played on most mainstream stations. This was something he understood as he had been part of a group which attempted to make a breakthrough "20-odd years" ago. The idea for the new group was initially prompted by the challenges facing musicians, but he said it was later expanded to include other artforms. "A friend of mine is involved in painting and sculpture and he was telling me that people involved in that side of the Arts face similar difficulties. So this is an open-ended idea. "We are hoping to attract artists, drama groups, comedians and poets. We won't turn anybody away because that would go against the concept of what this is about." When asked if he thought an artist-funded multimedia centre and radio station was financially viable, Mr McGrath pointed out that an estimated 100,000 people were involved in the Arts in Ireland. "If we can get 10,000 artists to come on board - which is not a huge number if you compare it to groups like the Irish Farmers' Association, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and the Vintners' Federation - then this can happen. "Obviously if we got 50,000 members on board we would achieve what we want to achieve more quickly," he said. He added that bands which failed to make a significant breakthrough would be able to accept that easier if they felt they had been given "a fair shot," but even that much was out of reach for most groups at present. A website for this initiative - 'A Time For Change' - is now online. It can be accessed at: www.atfc2012.com "This is about promoting original music and art in a totally new and exciting way," said Mr McGrath. "The most important thing at this stage is that people come out and attend the opening meeting in the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe on Tuesday, February 7 at 7.30pm."