ArtSound will hold its annual on-air fundraiser — the “2022 ArtSound Radiothon” — from Friday 27 May to Sunday 5 June.

This year’s theme: “ArtSound Earfest”!

During the 10 days, you’ll hear all ArtSound presenters ask for your support so ArtSound can meet its operational costs. You’ll also hear about how community donations to our station are supporting a wide range of activities.

Our costs are relatively high because Canberra’s transmission charges — for rental of transmitter spaces and for power charges — are as expensive as those in larger markets. During calendar year 2022, we will have to find about $50,000 for those costs, alone.

We ask for your assistance in preparing for the Radiothon. Would you be able to help in the ArtSound office and studios before and during the fundraiser? That would entail, for example, joining ArtSound’s presenters and other volunteers in getting set to take details of donations and membership applications as they are phoned in or lodged on our website. During the nine days of the Radiothon, it might mean helping to answer the phones — that’s a pleasant task, as it involves joining ArtSound volunteers in hearing from listeners and thanking them for their support. You might also be asked to voice promotional testimonials that we can record and broadcast!

Another task is to keep track of daily and grand prizes. Speaking of which, are you able to provide or arrange for prizes? Examples of prizes we were able to award during previous fundraisers include weekend stays at beach or country houses or hotels — even, Canberra accommodations for weekend “staycations”; dinners or afternoon teas at local restaurants, cafés, and hotels; at-home musical performances and piano tunings; and theatre and cinema tickets.

That’s far from an exclusive list: we’re happy to hear from you about prizes you can provide or organise. We’d like to raffle a hamper as part of our Radiothon-ending musical social gathering, so we’d be grateful for donations of non-perishable items for that.

Please get in touch with the Radiothon Organising Committee at radiothon@artsound.fm, or via the ArtSound office on 6295 7444.

Thanks in advance to any of you who have supported the station in the past, and will do, this time around.