Ilkley Arts would like to invite you to take part in ‘The Secret Postcard’ exhibition, taking place on 7th to 9th June 2024 at the Ilkley Arts Studio.

This is the third such fundraising exhibition organised by Ilkley Arts. The first two successful exhibitions raised just over £4500 (split equally between Ilkley Arts and Wharfedale Refugee Action Group) and postcard donations came from Michael Palin, Tim Peake, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Alan Titchmarsh, Jilly Cooper, Joe Cornish and many established artists and makers from around the UK.

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. It is important that exhibiting artists do not identify themselves by name anywhere on the front of the postcard. However, it is open to exhibiting artists include their name, website address, Instagram page and any other information they choose about their work on the reverse of their postcard. The exhibition has been very well supported by the local community in previous years and provides an inexpensive and fun way for artists to reach a new audience at the same time as contributing to worthwhile charitable causes.

All money raised from this years 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. 

The Postcards

The Theme - Passage

Your postcard must measure 10 x 15cm. It can be made from any material, paper/card/board/ceramic/textile, but all artwork must be original. 

Do not identify yourself by name on the front of your postcard. However, please make sure your name and signature and any other information you wish to pass on to buyers is on the back.

All artwork will be anonymous and not linked to the artist name until after the auction. Please feel free to share that you are taking part but please keep your postcard design/image hidden.

If your work is not purchased and you wish it to be returned to you, please ensure you send a stamped addressed envelope in with your work.

Donated postcards will be photographed for publicity purposes only.

One post card only please per exhibiting artist. We cannot guarantee to display multiple postcards by the same maker.

The deadline for artworks is 18th May 2024.

Please complete the online form to let us know you are applying. If your submisssion is accepted you should then deliver or post (put in an envelope) your art work to Sarah Gamble, Ilkley Arts Studio, Cottage 4, The Manor House Courtyard, Ilkley, LS29 9DT or to Joanne Tinker, Tinker Gallery, 25 Church Street, Ilkley, LS29 9DR.