KVCR Calls on Artists to Show off Vibrant IE Culture

Promoting local talent and continuing to bring public radio services to listeners in San Bernardino and Riverside counties are the goals of KVCR 91.9 radio as it seeks local artists for its April 2015 Public Radio Membership campaign. The station is now accepting public radio-inspired artwork submissions from local artists which will be produced on pint glasses given as thank you gifts to station donors, and will conduct on-air promotions and an interview with the artist whose work is chosen for the campaign. "This will help an artist, an art community and local communities," said KVCR Marketing Coordinator Lillian Vasquez. "I think it's really a win/win situation, whether for up-and-coming or established artists. They can come on air and we'll promote both the artist and our radio station." Inspired by the project created in Birmingham, Ala. at the WBHM radio station, Vasquez said she wanted to bring the project locally to the Inland Empire and highlight the connection between KVCR, the only locally-owned station in the Inland Empire, and the communities it serves. Serving local, national and international communities, funding for programming comes heavily from supporters who contribute in various ways to the network, explained Vasquez. The pint glasses which will feature the work of a local artist will be given to these supporters as a thank you, she shared, with the hope of making the art campaign an annual event and creating a collectible pint glass promotion. "Artists can create work that shows whatever they feel best represents the Inland Empire and our radio station and how we are connected locally, nationally and internationally," said Vasquez. Using the artist's unique personal style and vision, the artwork must also integrate KVCR's taglines: "Where you learn something new every day," and "NPR for the Inland Empire." In return for their donated art, the artist whose work is chosen for the campaign will be an on-air guest at KVCR, with the opportunity to introduce their design and talk about the inspiration for the artwork, share his or her relationship with public radio and why it's important to support local public radio. Additionally, KVCR will record a promo piece with the artist, which will play during the membership campaign; the artist will be a guest on one episode of the station's weekly radio show, KVC-aRts, to promote this and any other art project; will have a webpage including a biography and images about the artist created by 91.9; have their artwork branded on promotional materials including postcards, thank you notes, e-blasts, stickers, bookmarks and more; and includes heavy promotion on social media and in the Associations Newsletter. "We hope the project will enhance our community outreach efforts and brand the station as an engaged, youthful and inspired organization while celebrating the Inland Empire for the vibrant, artistic, intelligent community that it is," Vasquez said. In addition to promoting the culture of the local region, the project will also help create opportunities for the artist. A passion for local radio and their art is also a plus, explained Vasquez, as this passion will then spill over into the on-air interviews and promotions. The deadline to submit artwork and a completed artist application is March 13. For more information about the project or to submit your artwork and application visit the KVCR radio station website at kvcrnews.org. Click on the "Submit Your Artwork" icon on the right side of the homepage.