The lanterns of the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival are about to be evicted as a fundraising campaign to find a suitable storage space falters.
Carnival artistic director Juliet Novena Sorrel said scores of lanterns made over the past 13 years were stored at several sites in Dunedin, including more than 100 in a Ward St warehouse.
"We know our days are numbered in those spaces and we have been asked to move out ... We don't want to be squatters.
"I think we deserve a lot more than that because of what we have given to the city with this event.''
A permanent storage space and workshop could result in the event growing to match the World of Wearable Art in Wellington.
The need for the space - about 500sqm - was "critical'' as the artists needed to begin work next month, she said.
Trustee Dr Ian Griffin said the carnival was a "mainstay'' on the Dunedin social calendar and people needed to support it.
"We need to get a home for this amazing project.''
Carnival secretary Paul Smith said $1400 had been given to a campaign to raise $4000 to cover the first rent payments if space was found.
A new space would allow artists greater scope to produce "amazing things'', he said.
"With everything in one space, it makes it everything so much easier.''
Fund-raising: https://www.boosted.org.nz/projects/mid-winter-carnival-art-space
