KEY donors whose generosity is helping realise the vision of a new fountain in Ilkley are set to be publicly recognised.
Improving Ilkley has published the list of 116 keystone donors to date. The donors will have their names marked permanently at the fountain site at Mill Ghyll.
Improving Ilkley trustee Louise Hepworth-Wood, said: “We are thrilled with the number of keystone donors. There is such a variety - from businesses, to individuals, to those using the opportunity to remember someone (which feels particularly special). There have also been groups who have clubbed together to donate in the name of an organisation or as a wider family. It is a truly wonderful celebration of our local community.”
The names will be laser-cut into Corten steel and will surround the perimeter of the fountain. There will be no ordering to the names, so that Improving Ilkley can add additional names of funders at a later date.
Matthew Ward, Improving Ilkley trustee, added: “We have made every effort to contact everyone who has donated £250, either through donation, by buying art at the art auction which took place in April at the Tinker Gallery, or by buying a limited-edition fountain model. However, if you have not been contacted and you feel you should have been, please get in touch asap at trustee@improvingilkley.org
"We’re extremely grateful to all donors who have helped to realise this vision.”
Local building contractor Dakin Developments Ltd has been handling the initial stages of preparing the site and engineering works are near completion.
Dakin has been working closely with Improving Ilkley and offering advice on how the project can be delivered in the most cost-effective manner.
The fountain is a modern design chosen after an open call for entries by Improving Ilkley, with the submission by local artist Juliet Gutch winning. The design is based upon the sphagnum moss that is vital to the ecosystem of Ilkley Moor.
There is still time to either add to a donation which has already been made or donate £250 plus to have a name marked permanently at the fountain site. The deadline for this phase of Keystone donors is the end of October and as of Monday, October 14, there are currently 28 naming spaces left.
To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/improvingilkleyfountain
To check the full list of donors visit: https://discoverilkley.co.uk/ilkley-fountain/
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