Update 19th June 2021- A quick message to everyone who donated to the JustGiving fundraiser last year. We have sent an email (through JustGiving) regarding how to claim your gifts. If you didn't receive this, please send a quick email to andy@artinthepen.org.uk so that we can arrange your 'thank you gifts'.

Just as a reminder:

Donations over £25 - early access (from 9.30am) on the day of your choice

Donations over £50 - early access (as above) and two free tickets to Art in the Pen Skipton 2021. As stated on the JustGiving page below, we aren't able to track anonymous donations so won't be able to provide gifts if you donated anonymously.

HELP US SAVE:

Art in the Pen, Crafts in the Pen and The Mart Theatre from permanent closure. We are also responsible for preparing the venue for other site hires such as Yarndale, The Yorkshire Flea and Skipton Musical Theatre Company. Any donations received will help us continue to do so.

WHO WE ARE

Bad Wolf Theatre Company Ltd runs Art in the Pen, Crafts in the Pen and The Mart Theatre at Skipton Auction Mart. Our events include large art & crafts shows, music, theatre, stand-up comedy and panto for Skipton and Craven. We are also responsible for providing the site for other events such as Yarndale, The Yorkshire Flea, Le Petit Depart and Skipton Musical Theatre Company.

We are a not for profit organisation that invests all profits back into the events we run. This also allows us to provide free and subsidised panto tickets, drama classes with subsidised placements and a free Santa's Grotto every year at Crafts in the Pen.

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP

We closed a week before the official lock down and it is likely our sector will be the last to re-open. We have zero income coming into the business, yet still have the vast majority of our monthly costs.

The Mart Theatre, Art in the Pen and Crafts in the Pen are at risk of permanent closure. Art in the Pen 2020 has already been cancelled and Crafts in the Pen 2020 is also in doubt.

In terms of government grants and funding, we have not received the support we had hoped for. We have now exhausted all possible means to stay open without resorting to a fundraising campaign.

GRANT STATUS

• Emergency Arts Council England grant - unsuccessful

• Government 10K business grant - not eligible

• Government 25K leisure business grant - not eligible

• Craven District Council discretionary grant - we have gratefully received a £4,000 grant, which covers 13% of the total original amount required (£30,000). Unfortunately this does not match the £25,000 grant that other theatres have received.

OUR SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY, SMALL BUSINESS & INDIVIDUALS

• We have provided over 4000 exhibition spaces for small and local business to showcase and sell their work.

• Many of our exhibitors make use of the local hotels, B&B's, restaurants and local shops.

• Our events have brought over 98,000 visitors into Skipton, many of whom stay the weekend and/or visit the town and contribute to the economy through chargeable car parks, shops, market, cafes and restaurants

• We have provided a venue for emerging bands, stand-up comics and actors

• We have provided a free, high quality Santa’s Grotto (with gift) each year at Crafts in the Pen

• We create an affordable pantomime each year. The pantomime is also performed for two local primary schools each year at reduced rates.

• We provide a free rehearsal space for Craven College students, who showcase their productions at The Mart Theatre

• We support local performance groups such as The Skipton Musical Theatre Company

• We provide car parks throughout the year for caravan rallies, who also visit Skipton for the weekend

• Our venue is home to several large events such as Yarndale and The Yorkshire Flea, as well as charitable shows such as Girderfork.

The venue also offers parking for Craven District Council events such as Le Petit Depart and triathlons

DONATIONS OVER £10

• WEBSITE THANK YOU - name listed on the 'Thank You' pages of our websites

• ARTWORK THANK YOU - name listed on artwork to be displayed at future Skipton Mart events and shows

DONATIONS OVER £25

All the above, plus:

• BROCHURE THANK YOU - name listed in our event brochures for three years

• 30 MINUTE EARLY ACCESS - to Art in the Pen and Crafts in the Pen for three years

• PANTO BIRTHDAY MESSAGE - request a video message from our library of panto characters

DONATIONS OVER £50

All the above, plus:

• FREE ART IN THE PEN TICKETS - two free tickets to our next event

• FREE CRAFTS IN THE PEN TICKETS - two free tickets to our next event

CLAIMING YOUR GIFTS

We will email all our contributors once the fundraising campaign comes to an end. You will be directed a short form to complete so that we can post the following 'Thank You Gifts'

• 30 MINUTE EARLY ACCESS CARD (donations over £25)

• 2 x FREE ART IN THE PEN TICKETS (donations over (£50)

• 2 x FREE CRAFTS IN THE PEN TICKETS (donations over (£50)

Please DON'T select to donate as 'anonymous' if you wish to receive your thank you gifts as we need to be able to contact you. Your details will not be shared with any third parties.

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS!

We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Craven Cattle Mart, Thirsk Farmers Auction Mart, The Yorkshire Flea, Skipton Musical Theatre Company & The Art Shop Skipton for their ongoing support with our fundraising campaign.