‘You, me and CFUV’: Victoria radio station fundraising to keep community radio alive

CFUV is Victoria’s community radio station based out of UVic and the station relies largely on donations to operate. 

Every year, CFUV holds a ‘Funding Drive’ in order to raise money so they can keep the station going and provide Victoria with offbeat radio that features many local artists and bands. 

This year’s Funding Drive will be held between March 14th and March 21st with a goal of raising $35,000.

The theme is “You, me and CFUV,” which highlights how the community-oriented radio station operates, producing unique programming that amplifies underrepresented voices. 

All the funds raised during this week-long campaign will go directly towards helping CFUV continue their work at empowering their volunteers and the arts scene in Victoria. 

Troy Lemberg, CFUV’s music director, says that it is important to keep community radio alive because they act as a hub for underground art and a space to learn broadcasting skills. 

“There’s fewer and fewer broadcast schools where you can learn how to do a radio show,” Lemberg told Victoria Buzz. 

“Community radio is a way for people to learn how to produce a radio show without having to go to a broadcast school.”

CFUV’s content is mostly produced by volunteers who put together a myriad of shows which showcase different music genres not heard on commercial radio, as well as podcasts that share news and stories which go untold by mainstream news outlets. 

For this year’s Funding Drive, CFUV is putting on two concerts. 

The Funding Drive kick-off show will take place at Lucky Bar on Thursday, March 13th and will feature Hot Goss, Cistern, Bo Meets World and Blacsphalt—all of which are local Victoria bands. 

The second show will close out the week-long fundraiser with KMVP, Ghost Darling and Cherry Venom playing at Vinyl Envy on Friday, March 21st. 

All proceeds from these shows will go towards the Funding Drive.

In addition to these two concerts, CFUV will be hosting a silent auction, there will be bands playing live sessions on air and on their YouTube account every day and volunteers have put together shows with special programming throughout the week. 

Not only does CFUV’s Funding Drive focus on auditory art, but they have hired local Indigenous artist, Gwagwadaxla to design specialty merchandise for the fundraiser. 

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“In the design is an octopus wearing sea urchin and sisiutl (double-headed sea serpent) headphones,” said Gwagwadaxla. 

“I wanted to draw on CFUV’s theme this year of friendship by creating an image made only by living creatures. There is an imminent power in coming together, tuning into the people around us, and cultivating friendship and community.” 

Gwagwadaxla added that he believes that with community comes protection, and the opportunity to be more open with one another to break down the barriers created by ongoing colonialism in arts and academic spaces.

This merchandise is available through CFUV’s website and will be given away for free to those who donate to the Funding Drive. 

Visit CFUV online to donate, or to find out more about how to support community radio.