As preparations for Ilkley Art Trail get under way for the third consecutive year, organisers are delighted at the connections growing amongst its artists.

A network social recently took place as organisers work towards the next event, to run at a variety of local venues from October 9 to 13.

Trail organiser Lorna Bird has been keen from the start that the Trail offers networking and connecting opportunities for its artists and other organisations.

She said: “We want Ilkley to become the cultural destination that we know it is capable of being. For that to happen, the first thing we need to address is the isolation in which many artists, small groups and creative organisations in the region are sometimes working. The networking social was a huge success and the Art Trail had garnered enthusiastic support from other groups as a result. An exciting night was had by all.”

A total of 45 successful artists who survived an expert selection panel’s assessments will be showing their work at Ilkley Art Trail venues around Ilkley and Ben Rhydding this October.

Support from Ilkley Playhouse this year enabled the growing artist community created by the Trail to meet and mingle in the comfortable space of the Wildman Theatre.

The selected artists of 2013, artists from the Trail’s previous years, and just some of the town’s cultural ‘movers and shapers’ were invited to the evening.

Many new names will be showing at this year’s Trail, but a large number are also returning to the Trail after the success of previous years.

For more information about participating artists and their venues, visit ilkleyarttrail.org. uk.