“Since October 2024, the Folk Preservation Society (FPS) has hosted 11 grassroots music events. Our network is built on trust and kindness, and we encourage both performers and audience members to take risks. We seek out and are approached by mature, established and high quality artists who are well respected locally and nationally on the folk circuit. For example Nemo Jones, Owl Light Trio and Ulrika Graine. However, many of our artists do not have an online presence, which impacts on their ability to cut through to a new audience. We are thrilled to be invited as an associate partner on Sound Gallery’s bid. It offers a pathway for the musicians in our network who are looking for opportunities to grow their experience and build their career” – Folk Preservation Society

Sound Gallery CIC, has built an excellent reputation for quality and impact within the community. Their extensive network, along with their strong track record in managing grants and delivering successful, artist-centred programmes, ensures that this project will be well-executed and widely beneficial. We are confident that Sound Gallery’s experience will amplify the project’s impact in our region. We highly recommend this project’ for funding, certain that it will make a significant and positive contribution to the southwest’s creative landscape”. Dom Jinks – Head of Creative Industries and Economy Exeter Innovation – University of Exeter

“Phonic FM is Exeter’s community radio station which broadcasts from the basement of Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre where it plays a significant role in promoting the city’s creative culture, especially music. Our station has over 70 volunteer presenters at any given time, all broadcasting with passion on playlist-free shows which of the showcase local music. By 2026 we will have been on air for 18 years and we have an estimated 20,000 regular listeners: on FM in Exeter, on DAB throughout Exeter, East Devon, Torbay and Plymouth and online across the world. We have successfully collaborated with Sound Gallery before and as neighbours at Exeter Phoenix and there is a direct connection from their recording studio to our broadcasting studio which has enabled us to air live sessions combined with in-depth features on the acts in question on relevant shows. In order to spread the word about this project we are able to offer significant air-time for project outputs: in particular the incredibly popular ‘Unsigned & Emergent’ show which is almost tailor-made for this project, but also on other shows which feature local music such as ‘Roots & Shoots’ with its focus on folk, ‘The Respect Show’ which promotes local ethnic cultural diversity and Bats on the Belffy which promotes new bands and invites discussion on neurodivestiy and LGBTQ+ issues”. Paul Giblin, Director, Exeter Community Radio trading as Phonic FM