ARTS FESTIVAL PHOTOMARATHON

MidsOMER nORTOn aRTs FEsTiVaL PHOTOMaRaTHON

etter late than never? After a summer of cancelled events, there was some B positive news as Midsomer Arts Festival returned for 2020. The Midsomer Norton Community Trust organised this year’s Arts Festival following sponsorship from the Town Council. Although the second lockdown forced the live-stream to be postponed, the popular Photomarathon went ahead four months after the original event had been planned. This year due to the restrictions on groups gathering the event happened remotely, with entries uploaded online. Members of the public were invited to take part in exploring

Sarah Johnson

the local area in an imaginative and unfamiliar ways, using their camera. Entrants were asked to take one photograph for each of this year’s six chosen themes: Circle, Home, Comfort, Outside, Shine and Alone.

Organisers encouraged participants to be as creative and unique as possible, with the photos set to be displayed in various forms around the town.

Here are a select few of the entries, not all files were able to print, the full selection of photos, as well as news when it arrives on the rescheduled live-stream, can be viewed online at www.midsomernortoncommunitytrust. co.uk/artsfest

Suzanne Ladd

Jenny Short

Tania Roswell-Jones

Harry Diggle (age 5!)

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CELEBRaTinG LOcaL RaDIO Day

omer Valley fm, the local radio station for north east somerset, based in S midsomer norton, celebrated local radio day on monday, 12 october. over 150 local and community radio stations took part across the Uk. returning for its fifth year, the event is organised by local radio alliance. this year, local radio has achieved new heights of relevance; the need to unite during isolation, to join meaningful and supportive networks, has never been greater. local radio has proved an invaluable medium to facilitate such connections.

the theme of the day was ‘Communities making waves: turning the tide on isolation’.

over the course of the day, somer Valley fm broadcast 17 hours of live and fresh content. from breakfast through to the evening schedule, the aim was to bring our community closer together. special guests included Jacob rees-mogg mp for north east somerset, and lynda robertson, mayor of midsomer norton. interviews were held with shoppers in midsomer norton high street, and Jacarandas' customers and owner sarah malik, beforehand. Questions were then asked and discussed with the mayor live on the radio, on the day. richard Burgess, new station manager at somer Valley fm, commentated: "it was a fantastic day for our radio station. the local people responded brilliantly when asked to be involved in our special day, we couldn’t have asked for better guests, and we felt our radio programmes were particularly relevant for the theme. the commitment and quality of our shows from our voluntary team of presenters and producers was professional, well planned, and a great listen!" after the success of the vox pops (short interviews and questions from members of the public), the station wants to develop the idea further; "We regularly interview midsomer norton and radstock’s mayors, councillors from Westfield, midsomer norton and Banes, along with peasedown st John, and now our mp! i want to give our community the chance to ask questions and influence the decision making at parish, town and county levels. our radio station will reflect local public opinion – we will be out on the streets again to get the pulse of our area," richard added.

so get in touch! – contact the radio station: 01761 411755, studio@somervalleyfm.co.uk, or find us on facebook or twitter.