BUDDING fashion designers and creative minds are being asked to help boost Dorset County Museum’s development appeal.

The Dorchester museum is running a fundraising appeal as it moves forward with plans for a new £6million Collections Discovery Centre that will house its three million artefacts and offer better access to the public, To support their fundraising appeal they are inviting entries for a competition to design a t-shirt logo for the appeal.

The appeal’s fundraising team leader David Taylor, who is also a Dorchester town councillor, challenged people to come up with an inspiring design that people could wear to support the museum and its bid for the new centre.

He said: “Help us to develop our new centre for the Dorset County Museum.

“We are hoping to raise £6million in several ways and this competition is for a logo to design and appear on t-shirts and badges which will be on sale to promote the appeal.”

The winner of the competition will be announced on April 22 and Councillor Taylor urged people to have a go and play a part in securing what would be a major asset for the whole county.

He said: “The new building that will be built will promote our history and heritage for future generations to enjoy.

“This will create jobs and bring a huge investment to the county of Dorset.”

The appeal was launched with the museum offering personalised plaques on its iconic main staircase for anyone who donated £100 to the cause, with the first plaque secured by Antiques Roadshow’s Paul Atterbury who helped launch the campaign.

A total of 45 plaques have now been added to the staircase, bringing a boost to the development appeal of £4,500.

Entries for the logo competition can be sent to Councillor Taylor at fundraising@dorsetcountymuseum.org or marked for his attention and sent by post to the Dorset County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1XA.

Anyone who is interested in supporting the appeal in other ways can contact the museum on 01305 262735 or email enquiries@dorsetcounty museum.org