A Word or Two with Moroccan Radio Mavericks

It's no shock to anyone if I observe that radio is becoming increasingly homogenized and boring.  I'm sure this is one reason why you and I both find the truly anomalous WFMU so refreshing.  I recently became aware of another very cool outlier, Radio Apartment 22, an internet radio station based in Rabat, Morocco.  Established last year and run entirely by three dedicated staffers, the station serves largely as an outlet for international artists, documenting various art events through streaming audio and showcasing selected musical works.  Recently, the station provided excellent coverage of South Korea's Gwangju Biennale, including interviews with curators and artists as well as recordings of musical performances.  I was fortunate enough to attend the Biennale (read my article here), where I had the opportunity to speak with R22 staff.

Unique not just in comparison with blander internet radio stations, Radio Apartment 22 also serves an important local function; it is the only fine art oriented media organization in Morocco.  The project began in 2002 when Abdellah Karroum founded Apartment 22, one of the first fine art spaces in the area.  Initially he found little support from local artists or the government.  "There's not really a forum right now in Morocco for speaking about arts and culture in an in depth way, " said Emma Chubb, R22's Programming Coordinator.  "They've been building an art museum for years and years but it seems like it will never be finished"  Despite this, R22 proudly bears the mark of its locale - the station broadcasts in English, French, Arabic and Berber, among other languages.  For me, this is one of the more charming qualities of the station, a rare preference of local personality over what's become the near universal language of media: American.  On a personal note, I'm very relieved sometimes to be an expat...

Over the past five years, the station has found increasing support.  "For a long time, I did everything myself. After about three years, people started to become interested because I was working with young, international artists, doing workshops and not really worrying about what the government wanted me to do, " said Karroum. Last year, R22 was able to expand from art space to internet radio station.  Further expansion is planned as well; In October, R22 will provide video coverage of the Brussels Biennale.  As an internet TV station, R22 hopes to document workshops and art events of this kind and possibly include creative work by video artists.  What was once a small gallery in a loft is quickly turning into a fully fledged source of international fine art.  Thanks to Abdellah and Emma for taking the time to speak with me and James for setting me up.  Pictured from left to right are Pascal (R22's engineer/producer), Emma and Abdellah. Photos by Robert Johnson

Comments

[Brian Barker]

I think there should be a spoken Universal Language as well.

Check http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8837438938991452670 if you have time.

Otherwise http://www.lernu.net ?

[Sam Weaver]

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1 888 680 RADIO
thecoach@radiocoach.biz (e-mail)

[mirc]

Good post Thanks.

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