INDIAN HEAD, Md. — The College of Southern Maryland’s Velocity Center in Indian Head hosted its fourth annual Art of Innovation STEAM Festival on April 12, drawing over 200 community members for a day of hands-on exploration in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Despite cool and damp weather, the free, family-friendly event fostered creativity and curiosity through interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and live performances.
Attendees engaged with a range of activities, including using solar telescopes with the Southern Maryland Astronomical Society to observe the sun, taking virtual tours of the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary, and assembling electronic components with the Charles County Amateur Radio Club in the CSM Makerspace. The Charles County Public Library’s Mobile Discovery Lab was a highlight, alongside performances by CSM musicians and a herpetologist demonstration featuring live reptiles.
Lesley Quattlebaum, executive director of the Velocity Center, emphasized the importance of early STEAM exposure. “It is so important to give children access to a broad scope of STEAM programming at a young age,” she said. “Including the arts is important, because often individuals who do well in technology have a creative side to them. One of the things we are trying to do with this event is to help our children see what that looks like; we talk about it, but to make it into a hands-on experience makes it so much more approachable.”
STEAM education, which integrates arts into traditional STEM fields, encourages creative problem-solving and critical thinking. The Velocity Center serves as a hub for this interdisciplinary approach, aligning with Leonardo Da Vinci’s belief that studying both art and science fosters a complete mind. According to the U.S. Department of Education, STEAM programs enhance students’ innovation and adaptability, preparing them for 21st-century careers.
Community feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with Quattlebaum noting, “I received great feedback from attendees today. The community seems to really value this event, and many of our partners are repeat ones that come annually in full force and are always excited.” Longstanding partners like the Southern Maryland Astronomical Society and Charles County Public Library have been integral to the festival’s success, offering consistent and enthusiastic support.
The Velocity Center continues to promote innovation through upcoming programs. On April 26, Troy A. LeMaile-Stovall, CEO of TEDCO, will deliver a lecture on innovation and global entrepreneurship as part of the “Innovation @ the Velocity Center” series. The center’s Makerspace offers memberships and classes for local creators, providing tools and knowledge to realize their ideas. In May, the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program will bring its Spark! Places of Innovation exhibition to the center, highlighting invention in rural America.
The STEAM Festival’s success underscores the Velocity Center’s role as a community resource for education and innovation. By offering accessible, engaging programs, the center bridges art and science, inspiring the next generation of thinkers and creators in Southern Maryland.
