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'The Patch' focuses on
vibrant local arts scene “It’s a website for the artistic community by artists,” Jay says. “There is a lot of creativity and talent in Peterborough and we want to focus on this community and bring it together.” For its debut, the site features interviews with local and visiting musicians, a review of a continuing local soap opera, fiction, food reviews and several other features including visual arts and a sex column, Lola Love. “Some of the material is not for the faint of heart,” Jay cautions. “I’ve been fortunate to find some young, talented writers and turned them loose to write about the things they are interested in,” he says. “We are all non-paid volunteers, under 30 and eager to spread the word about the amazing talent in this city. The Patch is seeking local advertisers, he says, to provide some funds for resources. Jay says he does not expect The Patch ever to be a profitable venture but he hopes it can help to get artists working collectively, driving the arts community towards a more active role in social change. “The artistic community is very important to this community and can be a strong force for change,” he says. Jay says his website has been influenced by his work with www.axiomnews.ca, a news service dedicated to using journalism to bring about social change. A native of Miramichi, N.B., Jay has lived and worked in Peterborough for the past year and says he decided to create the website after discovering that he could find listings for artistic events but very little about the artists. He points out that there is always new music, art and theatre happening in the city as well as a constant stream of out-of-town artists coming in. “We want to bring this community together.” The Patch is also aiming to expand to a much wider audience by getting the word out about the city’s talent across Canada, to media, potential art buyers and talent scouts who might not have the opportunity to visit in person. “They can come online and find out what Peterborough has to offer,” he says. The Patch is off to a good start, with 288 unique visitors on its first day of operation, an indication that people are eager to have the opportunity to find out who’s currently creating a buzz on the local arts and culture scene. |
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Peaceful Communities is reaching more people! The Grassroots Review |
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