Bern-Netzwerk Interview: Bern Animal Park and Museum of Communication

Cornelia and Nico, you’re just now meeting in person. So far, there hasn’t been any collaboration between Bern Animal Park and the Museum of Communication.

Nico: That’s right. Quite surprising, really – given that we’re not far apart, thematically or geographically.

Cornelia: Also in terms of our audiences. With families and school groups, we’re probably very similar. Unfortunately, at Bern Animal Park we’ve tended to stay too much within our own walls in the past. But now we’re starting to reach out and gradually break down those little walls. What’s crucial for us is that the interests of the partner institution’s visitors align with those of ours – we’ve had collaborations in the past that failed exactly because of that mismatch.

Your visitors have very similar needs and interests. So why hasn’t there been any exchange so far, and what would it take to initiate collaboration?

Nico: Many are simply busy with their own schedules. So adding additional projects isn’t something that just happens naturally. I suppose if we had crossed paths privately at some point, something might have developed earlier. There are so many institutions in Bern that we have no contact with – and we simply don’t think of them. That’s what makes the Bern Network so exciting: as part of it, you get to connect with exactly those people, and that lowers the threshold. Without needing a huge concept for a joint project, I can just reach out to another member – and usually find an open ear. And if it doesn’t lead to anything, that’s fine – there will be another chance.

Cornelia: It also helps to get a sense of how others work. I think being part of such a network encourages you to think earlier and more consciously during a project whether there might be someone in Bern working on something similar – and whether there’s potential for collaboration. Without the network, I just do my project, and I don’t necessarily think of reaching out. Now that you’ve brought us together, I can see that the conditions for a great collaboration are actually already there. Now we just need that spark of inspiration.

Nico: Exactly – often the conversation stays at the level of “we have things in common”, but going beyond that is the real challenge. It takes more than similarities – it takes a concrete idea where the spark really catches on both sides.

Let’s say you take a look at your planning together – could it be possible that one of you develops an offering based on the other’s theme?

Nico: Yes, absolutely. We focus on a new theme each year, together with a new temporary exhibition. That always opens up new opportunities for connection. Toward the end of this year, we’ll be addressing the topic of ecology – a subject that naturally lends itself to a joint initiative.

Cornelia: I agree completely. As a continuation of our “More space for fewer animals” approach, we’re now focusing on upgrading the spaces within and between the enclosures. That means creating more biodiversity for local and regional flora and fauna. In this context, we’ve launched a “beetle project” in which we breed beetle species that have become rare in Bern, reintroduce them to the park, and raise awareness among our visitors about their needs. It’s a project very much tied to ecology and ecosystems – so yes, I can definitely imagine doing something together. Depending on how your exhibition is developed, it could be about communication between beetles, between beetles and humans, between people about beetles, or simply communication within an ecosystem.

Nico: Yes, that does sound exciting. The challenge with collaborative projects like this is often the different timelines. We usually start planning two years in advance, and the exhibition gradually takes shape. By the time we go public, everything is more or less set. So it’s often hard to find the right moment for collaboration – a point when the theme is defined and the partner can simultaneously develop a matching idea.

With our “Planetopia” exhibition, though, we’re taking a different approach: before the exhibition opens, we’re out and about doing pop-up projects to break out of our museum bubble and reach people who aren’t our typical visitors. The insights we gather will feed into the final exhibition. That gives us some creative flexibility at this stage – which is great, because otherwise it often happens that both sides end up working on the same topic, but at different times.

What you’re talking about now mainly concerns the creation of new offerings. But what about joint communication or increasing visibility?

Cornelia: A good current example is the satellite exhibit we’re currently hosting at Dählhölzli, which comes from the “Queer” exhibition at the Natural History Museum Bern. At seven stations, queerness in the animal kingdom is presented. We received a topic briefing at the museum itself. This gives us great additional content for our guided tours, and at the same time we promote their exhibition. Collaborations like this always contribute to knowledge expansion and a stronger overall impact.

Nico: Absolutely. I believe that when it comes to visibility, it’s quite easy to find common ground and take action quickly. For the quiz at the end of our “SUPER” exhibition, we were able to organise various giveaways from different Bern Network partners on short notice – which allowed us to raise awareness of their institutions as well. For the ecology theme, I can well imagine including a feature in our newsletter, something like: “Bern Animal Park is running a great conservation project for rare beetle species – be sure to check it out!” We’ll see if something larger grows from that. But one thing is clear: when you start combining the diversity of offerings in a destination, it always leads to more.

That’s exactly the goal of the Bern Network. Cornelia, what was the key factor that made Bern Animal Park decide to join? And Nico, can we live up to those expectations?

Cornelia: For the new park management, it’s very important to actively seek out and engage in shared platforms like this one. We won’t save the world from Bern, but if we work together, we have a much better chance of making a meaningful and lasting contribution. We want to build stronger connections on a regional, national, and even international level – and your invitation came at exactly the right time. Sometimes we also have very specific questions, and someone else in the network might have just the experience or knowledge to help. That might be about guided tours – what works well and what doesn’t – or even pricing strategies.

Nico: I completely agree. One of the biggest advantages is knowing the people personally – once you’ve met, it’s easier to reach out with a question or an idea. I haven’t launched seven major cooperation projects, but several smaller things have come out of it, and many potential points of contact have emerged. I think the format is great and I see a lot of potential. At the same time, I believe it still needs to mature a bit and become more interconnected so that at some point, the timing really lines up. I’m really happy to see the network growing – even though that makes it more difficult to stay in touch with everyone, and it might happen that similar topics are being explored without us even noticing.

That’s why it’s all the more important that you keep us informed about your projects and topics – it’s the only way we can stay on top of things and help support meaningful connections.

Cornelia: Yes, absolutely. I think it’s a shame when people lay eggs but don’t cluck about them. In any case, we’re excited to be part of the network and curious to see what other connections might emerge from it.

Nico: Definitely. Getting to know people, for example through a Bern Network workshop, helps you know exactly who to reach out to. I’ve discovered things I never would have picked up on otherwise. The Bern Network brings together a diverse range of players from different sectors – and that’s exactly what helps us think outside the box and get more specific about what we could do together.

Thank you very much, Cornelia and Nico, for these valuable insights. We look forward to following the development of your collaboration.