Trustee Jasmine Patience and Hon Curator Ann Wilkinson attended an Afternoon Tea at the House of Commons last week in recognition of their work with the Accentuate History of Place project. This final event of the three year project was hosted by Damian Collins MP, Chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee. The Maison Dieu Museum is one of only 8 buildings chosen from hundreds in Britain to take part in the project which explores the stories of deaf and disabled people over 800 years of history.
The Accentuate History of Place project has produced an interactive digital experience “The Story of Helen” which explores the lives of Mediæval pilgrims and workers at the Hospital of St Mary – the Maison Dieu. This is ground-breaking for a Faversham museum.
The Maison Dieu was also in pride of place as part of the “Without Walls: Disability and Innovation in Building Design” exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London during 2018 which attracted over 145,000 visitors.
Although the project has come to an end, the Trust will continue to support representation and employment of deaf and disabled people in culture in the future, and exciting new projects are planned.