You might think that only big organisations get into podcasting, but think again. Peopleprint Community Media Workshop, in Rochdale, is a not-for-profit voluntary arts organisation. Beginning life in 1984, they started silk screen printing and photography and provided print and training facilities for the community. They’ve now grown to embrace new technologies and offer a range of arts related enterprises from graphic design to film making. They now also run a highly successful arts podcast. Here, they tell Arts Hub about how they started, what they’re up to, and what podcasting means…
When did you start Peopleprint?
22 years ago but this project, the podcast, started in November 2006
Which part of the country do you cover?
Rochdale and the rest of the world via the internet.
Who is in your team?
Christine Talboys-Smith (Company Manager) and me Dawn Chadwick (Development Director), we also have a loyal band of volunteers.
What art forms do you cover?
In house, between the two of us, we cover most artforms. Christine is a silk screenprinting genius and I come from a theatre/film background which helps with the broadcasting and film making. Between us we also offer photography (digital and dark room), film making/editing, drama, craft workshops, music, web design, graphic design, set design, it depends which hat we wear! If we (staff) can’t do a job we look after 400 talented people on our Creative Industries database and can find someone who’s got the skills. We have everything from magicians to dancers.
How would you describe your group/company/ organisation in 20 words?
An arts organisation, accessible to all ages and abilities that prides itself on our friendly reputation.
Where did the idea come from?
We have strange imaginative brainstorming sessions. We said “we know that there’s a lot of creative stuff going on in Rochdale – how can we make people believe us?”
Who did you go to for advice?
We did a short course on podcasting at Manchester Digital Development Agency then ran straight out and bought the software!
What is the best bit of advice you’ve had so far?
That the podcasts could attract big corporate sponsors.
Who are your target groups/audience?
With the BBC and Indies moving to the North West, we see this as the perfect time to shout (outside Rochdale), about the talent from our town. We want to be seen as a great town to invest in. We’re hoping that this will stimulate future economic growth. Obviously our main target audience are creative people in Rochdale and there’s also a lot of events/gig news that is of interest to the general public.
Who or what has inspired you?
John Shuttleworth! If John can do a radio 4 broadcast under the hostile conditions of his central heating going off, then we can put a podcast together. One day we hope to reach a broadcasting standard that Mr Shuttleworth would approve of!
What has happened to you that you didn’t plan?
How popular the podcasts would be – we’re getting new contacts from all over the world and being a friendly little arts org we like to reply to everyone which is becoming a little time consuming!
What did you expect that hasn’t happened?
We hoped that a cheque for 10k would come in the post from a big corporate sponsor saying – we love the jingle you did for us and here is some money for you to train local people without the worries of ticking boxes! We wait in hope.
What is the one thing that you know now that you wish you’d known before you started?
If we’d have known about how popular the podcasts would be, we’d have started years ago. Typically, our town struggles with creative graduate retention and myspace has enabled us to find lots of talented, freshly trained graduates.
Who is funding you?
RMBC and ERDF
Do you have a mission statement?
Yes “Peopleprint exists to promote opportunities for self expression and communication by artists, individuals and communities through creative participation and training in the visual arts and media”.
What is your favourite web site?
www.peopleprint.org.uk or you can have a lot of fun on www.mvm.com to see yourself fatter and thinner.
What keeps you awake at night?
Worrying about money for the organisation.
What is the biggest challenge facing your group/company?
Organisation Finance and finding a funding streams that don’t exclude existing staff salaries
You can listen to the Peopleprint arts podcast on MySpace.
