THE organisers behind the ambitious Otley Common project are hosting a pop-up event this weekend to showcase their plans to transform Otley Methodist Church, into a vibrant cultural, entrepreneurial, and social space for the community to meet, work and play.

The pop up is taking place on Saturday, August 17 from 11am to 2pm, at Otley Methodist Church.

The group united, with a shared concern over the ongoing loss of community assets within the area, notably witnessing the decline of Otley Civic Centre which has fallen into such a state of decline it is now on the National Heritage ‘at risk’ register.

Otley Common will be run for the community by the community with spaces for:

• Community groups and classes

• Live music and comedy

• Theatre with rehearsal space

• Studio space for artists and small businesses

• Co-working facilities

• A dedicated youth area

• Private and professional functions

• Community café for all

Alongside building tours and opportunities to ask the team about their plans for Otley Common, the pop up will feature:

• Performances by Seasons School of Performing Arts, Otley Players, The Hummingbirds and folk band Them Dolphins.

• Special guest Otley Town Crier.

• Local creatives Jeanne-Louise Art, Mags Elliot Art & Illustration, Martha Taylor Art and Idle Valley Wood Craft.

• Giant games and children’s activities.

• Tea, coffee and cake hosted by Otley WI.

• Soup made by local café Noonoo & Nini using surplus food from Otley Larder.

After recently securing a £300,000 grant from the government’s Community Ownership Fund, the group are now looking to raise an additional £571,700 to purchase and renovate the building, through a Community Share Offer by Sunday, September 1.

The Community Share Offer, gives the community the opportunity to invest in an Otley based project, run by the community for the community.

In return, investors will become members of Friends of the Wesley Otley Limited (FOTWOL), the Community Benefit Society (CBS) that has been set up to run Otley Common.

All members will get to vote on decisions around how the society is run, regardless of how much they have invested. Investors will also get the option to receive interest on their investment as Otley Common becomes commercially successful.

Otley Common is currently targeting 6.25 per cent from four years after opening. At the time of writing this, 85 supporters have so far invested £84,570.

Visit Otley Methodist Church – Saturday, August 17 with entry between 11am and 2pm. No need to book a ticket – simply pop in.

To find out more and support this venture visit https://www.otleycommon.org/