INDIAN HEAD, Md. — The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Velocity Center in Indian Head will host the Smithsonian Institution’s “Spark! Places of Innovation” exhibition from May 17 to June 29, 2025, marking the first stop of its Maryland tour. The exhibit, organized by Maryland Humanities through its Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), highlights innovation in rural communities. It showcases how local institutions like CSM drive economic and educational progress.
The Velocity Center, located at 4465 Indian Head Highway, will serve as the primary venue, open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The exhibit will be closed for holidays on May 24, May 26, and June 19. CSM partners with Life Journeys Writers Guild to deliver companion exhibits and public programs that complement the Smithsonian’s themes, focusing on regional innovation, particularly in arts and healthcare.
“The College of Southern Maryland is thrilled and honored to partner with the Smithsonian Institution to host the Spark! exhibition at CSM’s Velocity Center in Indian Head,” said Lesley Quattlebaum, Executive Director of CSM Velocity Center. “We serve a vibrant and multi-faceted student population and community that demonstrates a rich tapestry of perspectives and ideas that must be engaged in problem-solving, innovation, and ideation to shape our ‘now,’ and our future.”
Quattlebaum added, “By hosting this Spark! Exhibition, College of Southern Maryland will highlight how community colleges harness these strengths to drive economic growth and educational excellence and inspire and nurture future innovators and inventors.”
The “Spark!” exhibition, the ninth MoMS project brought to Maryland by Maryland Humanities, explores how rural communities foster creativity and problem-solving. Maryland Humanities collaborates with local organizations to tailor the exhibit to regional stories. “The value of Museum on Main Street is how far-reaching it is to a wide variety of Maryland communities,” said Lindsey Baker, CEO of Maryland Humanities. “I’m looking forward to seeing how our partners show off their region’s innovation, as well as seeing the long-term effects of how hosting the exhibition will help grow their organizational capacity.”
Life Journeys Writers Guild, a co-host, has developed companion exhibits displayed at the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, the Waldorf Senior and Recreational Center, and St. Charles Towne Mall. These exhibits focus on innovative partnerships between the arts and healthcare, emphasizing creative self-expression’s role in community building. The guild will also conduct a six-part writing and mentoring workshop series and screen two short films highlighting Charles County’s first responders in healthcare and the Department of Public Works (DPW).
“We’re doing what Mother Nature does, but we must do it in a shorter amount of time,” remarked a DPW employee tasked with maintaining safe water in Charles County.
Yvonne J. Medley, Executive Director of Life Journeys Writers Guild, described the guild’s involvement as “an opportunity to come true!” She noted that the guild “has long awaited an opportunity to vividly and interactively showcase the creative self-expression and healing powers of the literary arts—how the wealth and act of writing and sharing can break down barriers, build healthy relationships and communities, and how the fun of it all is accessible to everyone.”
The exhibition’s Maryland tour, supported by Maryland Public Television as the media sponsor, will continue to five other locations after its run at CSM: Garrett County Historical Society (July 5–August 17, 2025), Captain Avery Museum (August 23–October 5, 2025), Accokeek Foundation (October 11–November 23, 2025), Kennard Alumni Association (November 29, 2025–January 11, 2026), and University of Maryland Eastern Shore (January 17–March 1, 2026).
CSM’s Velocity Center, a hub for education and workforce development, aligns with the exhibit’s focus on innovation. According to the Smithsonian Institution’s website, “Spark! Places of Innovation” draws on stories from rural communities across the U.S., showcasing how collaboration and resourcefulness lead to transformative solutions. CSM’s role in hosting the exhibit underscores its commitment to fostering such innovation locally.
Additional partners include the Charles County Arts Alliance, Charles County Government, Maryland State Arts Council, Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, and University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center. For more information, contact Robert Forloney, Program Officer at Maryland Humanities, at rforloney@mdhumanities.org or (410) 463-2293, or visit Maryland Humanities’ website.