You can still hang your child’s artwork on the fridge, but soon 13 years worth of school projects will be able to fit onto a thumb drive.

Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester art teachers were awarded a $3,500 grant to purchase digital cameras and portable hard drives to chronicle the artistic progress of all students. Each year, at least three pieces of student art will be photographed and stored on a hard drive. The digital portfolios will hold the work of individual students as they progress from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.

The grant also funds professional development opportunities designed to foster collaboration among art teachers. Teachers will have time to share education strategies and align lesson plans.

An Olympus Digital Camera, a 16-gigabyte memory card, a professional tripod, and a 750-gigabyte hard drive will be given to the six art teachers of the elementary, junior high, and high schools.

Grant co-author Dr. Elise Frangos, assistant superintendent and director of curriculum and instruction, said the funds would help record student improvement in the arts.

“We really believe that art education is very, very important here,” Frangos said. “Art engages kids when it comes to thinking of design, improving the world, appreciating beauty and what their role is in creating beauty.” Plans include exhibiting student work in the district’s central office, she said.

“Our central offices are rather sterile and there are opportunities to celebrate children’s art,” Frangos said.

Artwork displayed there will be rotated every two months. Offering advanced placement studio art courses at the high school and establishing a non-profit account to accept community donations are also being discussed. Old Rochester Art Supporters, the new non-profit, would operate much like the account that supports music in the schools once established.

Known as “ORR Visual Arts in the 21st Century – Multiple Platforms for Installation and Inspiration,” grant funding came from the Old Rochester Tri-Town Education Foundation’s 2013 Lighthouse Fund.