The European Network of Science Centers and Museums (Ecsite) held its 2016 Directors Forum last month, bringing together senior members of the association for several days of learning and networking events.

Hosted at Parque de las Ciencias in Granada, Spain, the forum brought together more than 55 senior managers representing Ecsite members, with the event based around the theme of “unusual partners, strategic alliances”.

According to Ecsite, unusual partners are becoming common practice in scientific institutions, with things such as heritage elements being introduced in science centres and interactive exhibits appearing in museums.

At the event, attendees explored a number of topics surrounding the subject, opening the forum with an art-science performance, both mediums of which Ecsite president Michiel Buchel said were “needed for innovation”.

Lucía Villareal, head of the exhibitions service at the Museo Nacional del Prado, alongside Santiago Merino, director of the Natural History Museum of Madrid-CSIC, delivered one of two keynote speeches during the forum. The pair spoke about Natural Histories – a joint exhibition with artist Miguel Ángel Blanco created installations, inviting visitors on a “scientific-artistic expedition”.

Ioannis Miaoulis, president of the Museum of Science Boston, gave the second keynote, discussing how to create a culture of philanthropy for an institution. Outlining his museum’s own fundraising strategy, Miaoulis urged attendees to unpick the “big questions” underpinning the donor-institution relationship.

Ecsite’s next major event will be its 2017 conference, comprising three days of exploratory talks and session on science centres, with around 1,000 delegates expected to attend. Taking up “Life Everywhere” as its motto next year’s edition takes place in Porto, Portugal, with the event coming from Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto and Ciência Viva.