A celebration of grassroots art coming to Ilkley Manor House
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The photoILKLEY photography festival has officially announced a creative partnership with local arts organisation Village Pavilion to launch an interactive Photo Art Vending Machine for the 2026 summer season.
The vending machine will be installed at Ilkley Manor House in July and allow visitors to purchase an original, pocket-sized piece of photographic art for just 50p.
The project aims to make art accessible to the wider community while raising vital funds, as all proceeds will directly support Ilkley Manor House.
Organizers are officially seeking open submissions from photographers of all backgrounds and skill levels who wish to donate their work. To fit the vending machine mechanisms, artworks must be printed small or cropped to a maximum size of A7 (10 x 7 cm).
Artists looking to get involved are asked to package their prints and drop-off through the Ilkley Manor House letterbox or by post to Ilkley Manor House, Castle Yard, Ilkley, LS29 9DT.
All submissions must be placed in a sealed envelope clearly marked with the artist’s name and labelled 'vending machine', the deadline for physical submissions is 30 June 2026
The vending machine project will run for the complete duration of the photoILKLEY 2026 festival, which takes place from 3 to 19 July 2026 across various everyday spaces in the town.
This year's overarching festival theme, HUMAN:NATURE, explores the intricate intersections of community, connection, care, and the environments we inhabit. The vending machine perfectly captures this spirit by turning local imagery into a tangible, shared community exchange.