The Ilkley Manor House Trust are delighted to announce that the Ilkley Lockdown Quilt exhibition opened on 24 July 2021 in the upstairs gallery at the Manor House in Ilkley.
The 126 squares created by the local community and sewn into 8 quilt banners together with the Scrubs sewing group quilt are on display until 3 October 2021. Also on display is the beautiful quilt created from 60 squares from the Scrubs Sewing Group who made scrubs and face coverings for the local community.
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, the Executive Member for Healthy People and Places Portfolio at Bradford Council visited the exhibition accompanied by her husband Phillip. Cllr Ferriby was shown round the house by Sir Rodney Brooke, President of the Ilkley Manor House Trust and Sarah Thomas, Chair. The tour included the Motor Neurone Disease art exhibition and where Cllr Ferriby talked with one of the organisers, Jackie Johnson, from the West Yorkshire Branch of the MND Association about the disease and the work of the association as well admiring the artefacts that have been returned to the Manor House from Bradford Council and are once again displayed in the heritage room.
“I always enjoy my visits to the Manor House and the MNDA exhibition, Solar Art Gallery and the Lockdown Quilt exhibition were a real pleasure to explore and learn about. Supporting individuals from the creative industries is seen as vital to the prosperity of the area and Bradford Council was one of the first councils to offer grant funding to these sectors to support them during lockdown,” said Cllr Ferriby.
The film ‘Stories behind the Squares’ was made using one of these grant funds and will be shown at the exhibition.
“I was also touched by the messages in the squares and the amazing work that so many volunteer groups and individuals undertook during the lockdowns to support others. It really shows the importance of community,” Cllr Ferriby added.
Cllr Ferriby was given one of the Lockdown Quilt books as gift from the Manor House.
The exhibition is open every weekend from 11am – 4pm and on most Thursdays and Fridays from 11am – 4pm until 3 October 2021. Please always check the website to confirm the opening times before visiting – www.ilkleymanorhouse.org
