Mattatuck Historical Society

THE MATTATUCK MUSEUM, LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, WILL CREATE CONTACTLESS INTERACTIVES THAT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO INDIVIDUALS ON THEIR OWN ELECTRONIC DEVICES TO ALLOW FOR AN ENHANCED VISITOR EXPERIENCE DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND A SAFER EXPERIENCE ONCE VISITOR RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED. THE MUSEUM WILL ADAPT ITS EXISTING PROGRAMS AND DEVELOP NEW INTERACTIVES BY USING A PLATFORM TO CREATE A WEB-BASED APPLICATION THAT VISITORS CAN ACCESS ON THEIR PHONES. THE MUSEUM WILL ALSO INCREASE IT ACCESSIBILITY BY PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS, AS WELL AS WI-FI, PLACES TO CHARGE PHONES, AND SMALL TABLETS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SMART DEVICES. THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND IN THE FIRST 3-6 MONTHS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS, THE MUSEUM WILL INVITE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND ABILITIES TO ASSIST WITH ASSESSMENT OF THE INTERACTIVES.

THE MATTATUCK MUSEUM IN WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, WILL EXPAND ITS SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM BY OFFERING TOURS TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-8. THE THEMES OF THE PILOT PROGRAM WILL REFLECT THOSE COVERED IN STUDENTS' CURRICULA AND WILL TAKE A PLACE-BASED APPROACH TO EXPLORING ART AND HISTORY. CONTENT FOR THE TOURS WILL COVER THE TIME PERIOD FROM EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT IN NEW ENGLAND TO THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. THE TOURS WILL USE HISTORICAL MAPS TO SHOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATERBURY. THE TOURS ALSO WILL EXAMINE POPULAR ARTISTIC MOVEMENTS DOCUMENTING THE CHANGING CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE THROUGH THE YEARS AND ENABLE STUDENTS TO USE THEIR CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS TO ASSESS ARTIST INTENT. IN ADDITION TO TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT AMERICAN ART AND THE HISTORY OF THE GREATER NAUGATUCK VALLEY REGION, THE PROJECT WILL ALSO HELP WITH THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ACADEMIC RECOVERY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE WATERBURY COMMUNITY.