BCMA Labs is an online space showcasing original student research and creative projects that engage the Bowdoin College Museum of Art’s (BMCA) collections and resources. In recent years, students have increasingly created new types of digital and creative content in response to experiences with the BCMA collections, including innovative projects by individual Bowdoin students and BCMA student employees, student groups, and class projects undertaken with the support of Bowdoin faculty. These projects have resulted in a variety of new and dynamic outcomes, many of which take advantage of digital approaches to scholarship and sharing, including 3d models, physical and virtual exhibitions, podcasts, short films, cast medals, and more. The scope and quantity of these projects have only been amplified since the COVID-19 pandemic and the development of new tools for engaging with collections and exhibitions.
With input from Bowdoin students and the student representatives on the Museum’s Advisory Council, BCMA Labs has been envisioned as a dynamic space “for students, by students” to house and highlight exciting student projects that are not otherwise captured on our website.
BCMA Labs was designed by David Israel (Bowdoin Academic Technology & Consulting) together with Sabrina Lin ’21, Elizabeth Humphrey ’14, and Sean Burrus (Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow, 2018-2022, Interim Curator, 2021-2022), and in collaboration with staff at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art. The site was developed using WordPress.
Acknowledgements
The Bowdoin College Museum of Art would like to thank the many Bowdoin students who have contributed their creativity, scholarship, and insight to creating innovative new content using the Museum’s rich collections. Additionally, the Museum thanks the many individuals who contributed to creating this digital exhibition, including staff at Bowdoin Academic Technology. The members of the Museum’s ROAM digital strategies team contributed valuable feedback along the way.
