Radio Buena Vida launches crowdfunding campaign to open new community space
Radio Buena Vida has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the last push towards opening their own café, a dedicated space for DJs and radio hosts to run their shows and for the general public to enjoy the music.
Illustration by Molly Hankinson
By Sorana Horsia
Behind the cream shutters at 535 Victoria Road, renovation works for the new Radio Buena Vida café has been underway since the Spring. Susan O’Neill and David Fleming, better known as Suz and Speedy , have been using their own savings to fund the renovations and the rent so far. However, with the rise of prices, they have fallen short of £5000 to finish the job.
Help Radio Buena Vida build its new home! Check out their crowdfunding campaign.
From the beginning, the goal of the radio station was to support emerging and established artists from Glasgow and beyond, as well as to offer a platform to underrepresented voices. Since October 2020, Radio Buena Vida has been broadcasting from the window of local café and record shop Some Great Reward, at 520 Victoria Road. Despite the tight place, hosts line up three days a week to share their stories and musical discoveries with the community.
Over two years, Radio Buena Vida hosted over 2000 shows. The radio also has 100 residents that put up regular shows. "RBV is where I started to do anything even remotely connected to music," says Kernius Linkevičius, one of the residents. "I have since got another radio show at a station back home in Lithuania. It helped me meet a lot of wonderful folk and, of course, get to know a lot of cool music!"
Listen to Greater Govanhill’s ‘Sound of Refugee Voices’ show:
A more fitted space will help the radio support more people and become a true creative hub in Govanhill. "It's a small space, but we have lots of big ideas." says Suz about the new place. The plan for Radio Buena Vida café is to be fully accessible and provide a sound-proofed space for the radio station as well as for a studio where DJs of all levels will be able to access equipment. It is also going to be a café where people can get together and enjoy the music, but also a location for workshops, collaborations and training.
In order for all these plans to come alive, Suz and Speedy need help to fund the last push before opening the new space. "It's really hard for us to ask for help for a project where we've been so hands-on, but we're really trying to build something that we hope will be recognised as offering a lot back to the community," says Suz.
The money raised from the crowdfunding campaign will pay for the soundproofing of the place, building an accessible toilet, installing the electrics needed for the radio booth, fitting up the kitchen and paying the rent while the work is carried on.
People wishing to offer their support can also get some goodies in return. The campaign lasts until the 9th of August. The goal is to raise the £7000 in total to cover the remaining renovations as well as the Crowdfunder fees and merchandise.