RECHARGE FINAL EVENT - Recap and Videos

We are incredibly proud of RECHARGE, a project that has given us so much and produced a wealth of outcomes over the past three years. From innovative tools to inspiring experiments in participatory practice, over three years, we have explored how research can become actionable, designing participatory models that help cultural organizations connect with citizens and rethink the sustainability of their activities. The project’s journey culminated on 11 September 2025, when the Museo del Tessuto in Prato hosted the final event: a day filled with insights, dialogue, and collaboration that perfectly reflected the spirit of the project.

The day began with warm greetings from Filippo Guarini, Director of the Museo del Tessuto, who highlighted the significance of hosting a European event in Prato on issues central to the future of cultural heritage. His words set a welcoming tone, and participants immediately felt the sense of pride and responsibility shared across the consortium. Trilce Navarrete (Erasmus University Rotterdam), the project’s scientific coordinator, followed with an engaging overview of RECHARGE, emphasizing how “recharging” the cultural sector involves infusing it with new energy through participatory practices. Her enthusiasm was palpable, and the audience responded with nods and smiles, already immersed in the collaborative spirit of the day.

The morning continued with a lively session on the Living Labs developed within RECHARGE. Led by Una Hussey(The Hunt Museum, Limerick) and Camilla Marini (Museo del Tessuto), nine presentations demonstrated the diverse ways participation can flourish across Europe. From co-creation workshops with local communities to experimental digital tools that invite audience input, each example sparked curiosity and discussion. Attendees leaned forward, taking notes, exchanging ideas, and sharing personal experiences, turning the session into a dynamic conversation rather than a series of presentations.

One of the day’s highlights was the launch of the RECHARGE Playbook, a practical guide translating research insights into actionable tools for cultural organizations. Available in English and Italian, the Playbook was presented by Nadia Nadesan (Platoniq), Gabrielle Aguilar van Gend, and Kelly Hazejager (Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision). They illustrated concrete applications, from designing audience engagement strategies to implementing co-creation sessions, and shared anecdotes from pilot projects that brought the Playbook to life. Participants were particularly enthusiastic about the interactive exercises embedded in the guide, many noting that they could immediately apply the methods in their own institutions.

The afternoon deepened the exploration of participatory models with Ragnar Siil (Creativity Lab), whose session invited participants to reflect on the underlying principles of engagement and sustainability. Following this, Luis Cesar Herrero Prieto (Universidad de Valladolid) presented key research findings generated through the project, offering data-driven insights alongside stories from the field. In “From the Laboratory to the Future,” Isabel Berigo (Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision) and Carlotta Scioldo (Erasmus University Rotterdam) discussed recommendations for European cultural institutions, sparking animated discussions and questions from the audience.

A particularly inspiring moment came during the keynote by Pier Luigi Sacco (University of Chieti-Pescara), Rethinking Cultural Policies, which offered a broad reflection on how policy, participation, and sustainability intersect. His examples of successful citizen engagement projects across Europe resonated with attendees, prompting applause and lively exchanges during the Q&A session.

The day concluded with a roundtable moderated by Carlotta Scioldo, bringing together leading voices from the sector: Elena Pianea (Tuscany Region), Cristina Da Milano (ECCOM), Francesca Velani (PromoPA), Pier Luigi Sacco, Lars Ebert (Culture Action Europe), and Margherita Sani (NEMO). The discussion highlighted strategies to sustain RECHARGE’s legacy, strengthen networks, and foster new European collaborations. Audience members contributed reflections, ensuring that the conversation remained grounded in practical experience and the shared commitment to participatory cultural practice.

The final event celebrated not just the achievements of a project, but the relationships, ideas, and energy it generated. RECHARGE has delivered tools, actionable recommendations, and replicable models that empower cultural organizations to engage communities more effectively and envision a resilient, participatory future for European museums. It was a day of learning, inspiration, and above all, pride—a reminder of what can be achieved when institutions, researchers, and communities come together with a shared purpose.

All videos from the day can be found in this Vimeo showcase: https://vimeo.com/showcase/11900432