Ilkley Arts presents its annual Postcard Exhibition, this year’s theme is “Passage”. Come down to the studio to view and bid on all the postcards donated by local and international artists to raise funds for Wharfedale Refugee Response.
All of the artworks will be available to view and purchase by secret auction only. A list of contributors' names will be circulated before and during the weekend, but work will be displayed anonymously until the auction closes at the end of the exhibition.
All money raised from this year’s sale will again be split between Ilkley Arts and Wharfedale Refugee Response.
The Wharfedale Refugee Response support group has been working alongside Refugee Action in Bradford since 2016. Together they organise day trips for families living in the Bradford area, as well as clothing appeals, food donations, Christmas gift appeals and more. The day trips to Ilkley and the surrounding areas are so important as they make a huge difference to the families who have been forced to flee from their own countries under often traumatic and harrowing conditions. They provide a break and breathing room for refugee families under great stress and represent a small respite where the parents don’t have to think about how to feed their children for a day and the children have something fun to do.
Without exception, the families leave at the end of the day with a huge smile on their faces and a sense that they have felt welcomed by local residents. This is all made possible by the generosity and support of the local community, community organisations and businesses. The group has welcomed families from all over the world, including Sudan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, Congo, Burma, Pakistan, Eritrea, Nigeria, Morocco, Somalia, Lydia, Syria and Iran.