Corsham art bid has text appeal
9:00am Friday 10th February 2012 in News By Craig Jones
Fundraisers hope to reach their target soon
The Pound has launched a fundraising text system to support its Artists in the Making appeal for £10,000, to be spent creating three artists’ studios and a community workshop.
The centre started the mobile phone service for people who want to donate to the appeal. It is called JustTextGiving and is run by the Vodafone network.
So far, the Artists in the Making appeal has raised £6,500 in six weeks by more traditional methods.
Organisers hope the new donations system will help the centre reach its target quickly and allow work on the new studios, which will cost about £190,000 in total, to start in the spring.
Ian Martin, the executive director of the Pound Arts Trust, said: “This is a wonderful way for us to raise money, as it is speedy, simple and spontaneous.
“Most people have a mobile phone these days, so we expect this to be very popular with our supporters.”
Anyone wanting to make a donation, of anything up to £10, can do so by texting “AITM12” and the amount they wish to donate to the number 70070.
Gift Aid tax reclamation can also be added to donations.
The text message is free and all the money raised will go to Artists in the Making appeal.
Mr Martin said: “We are really delighted with the response we have received from supporters of the arts centre, who have been extremely generous and enabled us to raise thousands of pounds already, in just a few weeks.”
Overall, £154,000 has been raised to support the project.
This includes donations from audience members, the sale of two cards created by Box artist Susie Brooks and grants from Arts Council England, Wiltshire Council and a local trust.
Visit www.poundarts.org.uk/pound/ artiststudios.aspx or call 01249 701628 for more information about donations.
