Small museum, big volunteer effort: the digital presence of the Crafts Museum Ovelgönne is on the shortlist of the DigAMus Award 2026. We are one of 19 selected projects out of 71 submissions.
The DigAMus Award puts good digital museum projects in the spotlight. We are delighted that our website is part of it, because it was built entirely by volunteers.
What was nominated
We submitted the digital presence of the Crafts Museum Ovelgönne. The website has been online since June 2026, in German and English. It shows 3D models of digitised objects and a simulator for the cobbler's globe. At ten large working machines in the museum garden, a QR code opens the object guide, no app needed. And a participation area invites you to share objects and family memories and to help decide what gets digitised next.
We are nominated in two categories: Innovative Technologies and Small Budget.
Made in-house, without an agency budget
Our old website no longer met the standards of a modern museum. We had no budget for an agency, so we took on the redesign ourselves: a volunteer team together with the museum management, with a lot of time, energy and heart.
LEADER laid the foundation
It all began with LEADER. With the support of the European funding programme and the Local Action Group "Wesermarsch in Bewegung" we were able to set up our own 3D digitisation department in 2023. Since then we have been capturing objects of regional craft and everyday history digitally, in our own house and with our own equipment.
The new website is the next step of that project and opens our digital collection to everyone: what we digitise in the museum, you can now view, rotate and explore from home. The LEADER regional management at the Wesermarsch district sees the nomination as an example of how regional funding can help preserve cultural heritage and open it up to new audiences. Thank you!
The road to the nomination
- 2023LEADER funding: we set up our own 3D digitisation department.
- June 2026The new website goes online, in German and English.
- October 2026Our digital presence makes the shortlist: 19 of 71 submissions.
- 1 November 2026The public vote ends.
- 9 November 2026Award ceremony at the German Mining Museum in Bochum.
How to vote
Everyone can take part in the public vote. You can vote for Ovelgönne until 1 November 2026. Voting takes place on the external platform Pollunit, not on our website. The vote stands on its own: it does not feed into the jury assessment but directly decides the audience award.
- Open the pollUse the button above or on the right.
- Find OvelgönneSearch the list for "Ovelgönne".
- Click the heartThat is how you cast your vote.
- Confirm by emailIt only counts once you use the link in the email.
For us the nomination is already a win. We would still be very happy about your support.
About the DigAMus Award
The award
- Since 2020awarded every year
- 4 + 1main categories and special prize
- 2 prizesexpert jury and audience
Since 2020 the DigAMus Award has honoured outstanding digital projects by museums in the German-speaking world. It is run by professionals from museums, communications and technology who give their time as volunteers so that good digital work becomes visible, even when it was created with few resources. Every year an independent expert jury honours projects in four main categories and with one special prize. In addition there is a separate audience award.
The award works together with the German Museums Association and is supported by NFDI4Culture, the consortium for research data infrastructure on tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The award ceremony takes place in a special setting: on 9 November 2026 at the German Mining Museum in Bochum, as part of the NFDI4Culture Community Plenary. There is no prize money. The value of the award lies in visibility and in networking within the museum landscape.
Thank you
A heartfelt thank you to the volunteer team behind the scenes and to everyone who supports our museum. Without you this website would not exist.
Spreading the word helps
The more people hear about the vote, the better. Share this news with family, friends and colleagues.
The Kreiszeitung Wesermarsch (16 October) and the Wesermarsch district (13 October) reported on the nomination.
More about the project
Frequently asked questions
What is the DigAMus Award?
The DigAMus Award is a volunteer initiative that has been collecting, nominating and honouring digital museum projects from the German-speaking world since 2020. There is an independent expert jury and a separate audience award.
What was nominated from the Crafts Museum Ovelgönne?
The digital presence of the Crafts Museum Ovelgönne is nominated in the categories Innovative Technologies and Small Budget. The project is on the shortlist with 18 other projects; there were 71 submissions in total.
How can I vote for the Crafts Museum Ovelgönne?
The public vote on the Pollunit platform is open until 1 November 2026. Search for "Ovelgönne", click the heart and then confirm your vote using the link sent to you by email.
Does the vote influence the jury decision?
No. The online vote does not feed into the jury assessment. It is a separate vote that directly decides the audience award.
When and where is the DigAMus Award 2026 presented?
The award ceremony takes place on 9 November 2026 at the German Mining Museum in Bochum, as part of the NFDI4Culture Community Plenary.
Is there prize money?
No. The DigAMus Award is a purely volunteer initiative. Visibility and networking within the museum landscape are what count.