music.

The Bermuda Project, set up to revitalise the Island's dying performing arts, has entered negotiations with a broadcasting company and hopes to launch the station in July.

Speaking to Hamilton Rotarians yesterday, project leader John White -- creator of the Not the Umm Umm Show -- said there was a need to promote the arts, and enable Bermuda to "express our past and present facts, foibles and frustrations through the medium of music, art, drama and dance''.

"The visual arts are doing well -- it's the performing arts that are struggling and that's where we're putting our resources,'' Mr. White said.

In order to proceed with his "ambitious'' objective, Mr. White has gathered an honours role of Bermuda's community and business leaders including Dale Butler, Tom Butterfield, Barbara and J. Cyril Cooper, Connie Dey, Elsbeth Gibson, Louise Jackson, Ray Mederios, Conchita Ming, Ruth Thomas and Gavin Wilson.

Mr. White said: "As a retired Bermudian with no political affiliation except my name and the colour of my skin, I have been told that I am the ideal person to get this job done.

"I retired four years ago and have been living abroad so I qualify as a foreign expert...and that helps.

Radio station in the pipeline "I have been a professional entertainer and successful businessman so neither side can mess me about.

"I'm not after anybody's place in politics and I am not getting paid for what I'm doing.'' Late last year, the organisation received a three-month start-up fund from The Bank of Bermuda and BF&M Group, as well as office facilities from AAC Saatchi and Saatchi.

It also began collecting and archiving music, poetry, literature and art produced, performed or published by Bermudians.

Other goals include the formation of a composers' group to create a "true'' Bermuda sound as well as arrange for a dedicated FM station to play Bermudian and Island music with the view to moving toward 100 percent local music.

RADIO RAO