EVELYN.THORN@cluthaleader.co.nz
A photography competition is one of many fundraisers for a multimillion-dollar new museum project.
The South Otago Museum will be hosting its first winter photography competition to raise money for a new museum building.
South Otago Museum curator Dr Roz McKechnie said the idea stemmed from the Otago Museum’s annual winter photography competition.
‘‘We’ve got to raise mega bucks for this new museum to happen, so this is just one of the many things we’re doing.’’
The competition is open to the public with various categories including general/open, under-16, computer manipulated/ enhanced and a members-only category.
Keen photographers pay an entry fee of $5 a photo and take a photo of a person, place or event within the South Otago community representing an aspect of the area’s history.
Printed and mounted photos along with entry forms are to be dropped off at the museum at 1 Renfrew St, Balclutha, before Friday, July 28.
Local photographer Richard Schofield will be judging and various prizes for winning categories will be presented on August 3 at the museum.
Dr McKechnie said discussions at its AGM mentioned the cost of only renovating the ‘‘very basics’’ in the building would be $500,000, so the South Otago Historical Society decided on an entirely new building.
The society is looking at potential sites for the new building and predicts it will have to raise between $3 million and $5 million over the next three to five years.
