The newly re-established Effingham County Council for the Arts announced an open photography contest to be held in February. The contest is open to all and several categories have been featured.

Photographers will be able to bring their entries in to the Effingham Herald’s offices at 586 Columbia Ave., Suite 13 in Rincon (behind the Subway). Entries may be brought in from Feb. 1-15 by 5 p.m. The best days to drop off entries will be Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  

Entrants will need to fill out entry forms that will be available at the Herald’s offices and pay a small fee for each entry. Council members will pay $5 per entry while non-members will pay $10 per entry. Entrants under 18 years of age will pay $5. All entries must be either framed or matted and strung with a hanging wire so they can be judged and exhibited.

This contest is being sponsored by the Effingham Herald ,and three cash prizes will be awarded to contest winners. Category and honorable mention ribbons also will be awarded. First place overall will receive $100; second place overall will receive $50; and third place overall will receive $25. A reception will be held to kick off the exhibit and to award the prizes to the winning photographers. Following that, the photographs will be on exhibit for a week so the public can view the work.

Council Director Rick Lott said he hopes this will be the first of many such contests and that there are already plans in place to host an acoustic music festival, an art exhibit and a summer art camp in the council’s first six months since reforming.

“As we go forward, I envision offering things like photography and art lessons to both youth and adults and think that arts education will be one of the emphasis of the Arts Council for Effingham County,” he said.

Membership recruitment for the arts council is currently under way and membership fees help to support arts programming and education for the county. Throughout the year, discounts on various programming will be offered to members. Yearly individual membership is $35 and $50 for a family membership.

For information on the contest or on arts council membership, e-mail ricklott@sbcglobal.net or call (912) 228-2028.