Fostering Cultural Connections: a New Chapter for The Hunt Museum's RECHARGE project

Úna Hussey from The Hunt Museum explains how the Living Lab is evolving, expanding its reach and putting to test, once again, the CSR Community Business Model Iteration

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We are pleased to announce that the Hunt Museum has entered a new chapter in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) journey, as we embark on the second iteration of our CSR community business model. Partnering with SISK as corporate collaborator, this phase builds upon the insights and progress from our first iteration and carries a renewed commitment to collaborative innovation, community engagement, and meaningful cultural impact.

Reflections and Insights: Learning from the First Iteration

Reflecting on our initial phase, we recognize the value of early, authentic involvement of all stakeholders in the co-creation process. In our first round, the community was invited to participate later in the development phase, which presented limitations in achieving the fully participatory, co-created experience we envisioned. This time, we are taking a more integrated approach, bringing corporate, community, and museum representatives together at the inception to lay the foundation for a truly inclusive and impactful initiative.

A Collaborative Beginning: Co-Ideation Workshop in the Hunt Museum’s Captain’s Room

On September 30th, we gathered in the Captain’s Room at the Hunt Museum for an inaugural co-ideation workshop that brought together key participants from SISK, the vibrant King’s Island community, and the museum team. The session fostered an open, dynamic exchange of ideas, allowing participants to envision potential pathways for expanding on our earlier achievements, such as the innovative willow installation, and to collaboratively chart new directions that will provide value to all stakeholders.

The conversation focused on a core question: how can we simultaneously meet the aspirations of corporate partners, address the needs of local communities, and enhance the museum’s role as a cultural touchstone? Through facilitated dialogue, we sought to create a shared understanding, enabling each participant to voice their unique perspectives and contribute to shaping a collective vision.

A Promising Vision: Storytelling Trails Along the River

From these discussions, a powerful idea has begun to emerge: creating a storytelling trail along the river that winds into King’s Island. This initiative envisions a journey that invites participants to explore and engage with the rich history embedded in the local landscape, fostering an appreciation for the stories that connect people, place, and culture. Still in its conceptual stages, this storytelling trail holds the potential to weave narratives that deepen community bonds, offer cultural enrichment, and resonate with the values of all partners involved.

As we move forward, we are committed to maintaining an inclusive, responsive approach, with each phase of development shaped by continued input and active participation from the communities we serve. This second iteration marks not only a continuation but a deepening of our commitment to co-creation and cultural responsibility, and we look forward to sharing further updates on this promising endeavor.

Stay connected with us as we continue this journey towards sustainable cultural impact—together.