MSNHA announces photo contest

FLORENCE – The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area is hosting a photo contest that celebrates the people and places of northwest Alabama. Deadline for entries is June 15.

“Our area is full of history, culture and natural beauty,” said MSNHA interim director Carrie Barske, “as well as talented and creative people. We want to showcase those resources and share the things that make us so special.”

A program of the National Park Service, national heritage areas recognize regions throughout the country that help tell America’s story. The MSNHA is hosted by the University of North Alabama and includes the six northwest Alabama counties of the Tennessee River basin--Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan. It focuses on the themes of music, Native Americans and the river itself.

Contest categories are Native American culture, music, the Tennessee River and nature. One winner in each category will receive a $50 gift certificate from Swampers Bar and Grille, in Florence, and $25 cash. An additional grand prize winner will receive a one-night stay at the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa and dinner for two at the 360 Grille plus $50 cash. Winning photographs, as well as potentially other entries, will be featured on the MSNHA website and Facebook page and may be used in promotional materials.

“We hope people will use this contest as inspiration to discover MSNHA’s treasures,” Barske added. “From outdoor recreation and beautiful landscapes to our American Indian heritage to northwest Alabama’s continuing role and influence in today’s music industry, our area is known around the world. There’s no better way to tell our local stories than through our own local images.”

Entries must be digital, taken within the MSNHA by non-professional photographers and submitted by the person who took the photo, Barske said. Other contest rules and information plus the entry form and a release form are on the MSNHA website, msnha.una.edu.
 
Questions? Email msnha@una.edu.