A FUNDRAISING drive has been launched for a new fountain in Ilkley, as an art auction continues to exceed expectations. 

With just a few days left to go of the fountain fundraising exhibition and auction at the Tinker Gallery, on Church Street in the town, Improving Ilkley is thrilled with the number of bids that have been made.

Louise Hepworth-Wood, artist and trustee said: “With a week still to go, we already have nearly £10,000 of bids on the wall.

"We have also had four confirmed orders for editions of the fountain scale model with another six expressions of interest.

"All proceeds from the bids and the sale of the editions (after fabrication) will go towards this historic project.

"We are now well on our way with the fundraising and are so grateful to all the fantastic local artists as well as individual donors who have shown such incredible support and enabled this to happen.

"More information about where the model can be seen after the auction, as well as details of the scale model, are on the JustGiving page - www.justgiving.com/campaign/improvingilkleyfountain.

"There are still a few days left to bid on one of these wonderful artworks, so please come and visit us in the Tinker Gallery until Saturday at 2pm when the auction finishes, and the highest bids are taken!”

After the show of support from the arts community, the Improving Ilkley fundraising team is now reaching out to the local business community.

Improving Ilkley trustee Jo Jarvis  “The original fountain of 1865 was selected by public competition, and funded by local individuals, organisations, and businesses.

"We are echoing that process and now launching a corporate package. Whilst all donations are welcome, the team is asking businesses to support the project by donating £250 and above.

"For this amount, donors can have their name permanently marked at the fountain site.

"We are asking for this amount as a pledge for the future and a commitment to community spirit. All individual donors giving £250 or above can also put forward their own name or the name of someone else who they might like to gift the pledge to.”

The final fundraising period will continue over the coming weeks and the team is optimistic that with a last show of support from the community, they will soon be able to fix a start date for the restoration of the stone basin, the replication of the Victorian gravity-fed water system, and the fabrication and installation of the fountain.