CREATIVE students and schoolchildren are being invited to help fundraise for an exciting new development at the Dorset County Museum.

The museum is bidding to build a new Collections Discovery Centre directly behind the existing building in Dorchester that will provide greater access to its huge collection of artefacts.

To support fundraising for the £6million centre, the museum is running a competition that will be judged by Lady Fellowes of West Stafford for a promotional logo.

The winning design will be printed on items sold in the museum shop for the appeal.

The museum’s fundraising leader David Taylor said: “We would love someone to come up with a design that sums up everything the museum stands for – its fantastic building and the artefacts which tell the story of the archaeology, geology and natural history of Dorset.”

The appeal was launched last year, with anyone donating £100 getting a personalised plaque on the museum’s main staircase, and has already raised thousands of pounds.

Museum director Jon Murden said: “The project is now fully under way and we are doing everything we can to make it a success.

“The new centre will enable people to have much greater access to our collections which are so important to the cultural heritage of Dorset.”

The competition is open to students in schools and colleges as well as to individuals.

Anyone interested in taking part can pick up an entry form from the museum.

The closing date for entries is Friday, July 4, 2014.

The competition will be judged on Tuesday, July 22, by Lady Fellowes.

For further information, contact Mr Taylor at Dorset County Museum on 01305 756827 or email fundraising@dorsetcountymuseum.org

More information is also available at dorsetcountymuseum.org