Recently, the Washington College Digital Scholarship in Museum Partnerships (DSMP) project was recognized by the Mid-Atlantic Museums Association (MAMA) with their prestigious Making an Impact Award. This award honors museums and institutions for innovative programs that benefit both the organization and their community.

The award specifically highlights programs that demonstrate responsiveness and resourcefulness, leading to creative change and a positive impact. The Association noted that the DSMP “has revitalized several volunteer-run museums in Kent County by increasing accessibility to their collections both online and in person.” 

The DSMP project is helmed by Sara Clarke-De Reza, chair and associate professor of education and director of the museum, field, and community education minor; Raven Bishop, assistant director of educational technology; and Julie Markin, chair and associate professor of anthropology. Through their collaboration and tireless outreach to regional museums and organizations, the project has provided crucial support to rural Kent County’s small museums. It’s these collaborations that have set the project apart. 

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition from MAMA,” said Clarke-De Reza, noting that “the success of DSMP hinges on the fantastic relationships we’ve built with our community partners.”

DSMP began in 2018 by connecting Washington College students with the Betterton Heritage Museum to digitize artifacts and build a virtual reality tour. This blossomed into a wider program encompassing multiple museums: Worton Point African American Schoolhouse Museum, Rock Hall Waterman’s Museum, Sumner Hall Museum, and Kent County Agricultural History Museum. 

Last year, participating DSMP project students organized an exhibit of their work at Washington College MuSE: A Community Museum in downtown Chestertown. With the goal of preserving and providing greater access to the local histories in the community, the exhibition provided digitized looks into each museum, viewable through virtual reality with 360-degree virtual tours, digitized collections, oral history interviews, and interactive panels. These digital tools empowered the museums in several ways, including in training new volunteers, expanding school and community outreach, and providing them with the ability to reinvigorate exhibits. 

To date, more than 150 Washington College students have aided these regional history sites in telling the story of rural America.

The MAMA award is a testament to the success of the DSMP project in fostering impactful partnerships that bridge the gap between academic and community institutions. By empowering local museums and nurturing future museum professionals, the project ensures the preservation and accessibility of cultural heritage for generations to come.

“At a time of constrained resources, this type of innovative partnership is more critical than ever for under-resourced museums, increasing access to the tangible and intangible resources they steward,” said Mary Alice Ball, the Clifton M. Miller Dean of Library and Academic Technology. 

The DSMP project’s reach extends beyond Kent County. It has collaborated with a museum in Belize on similar initiatives and has been invited to share expertise at various conferences and events. 

The project’s next partnership will be with Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory (FBBO), part of the Washington College Center for Environment and Society. This will allow the DSMP team to explore and develop new approaches and best practices for creating virtual tours and materials for outdoor learning spaces, which will expand the project’s future community partnerships.