IN-PERSON ISTANBUL HERITAGE(S)

Abstract

Digital technologies have redefined the way cultural heritage is perceived, experienced and interpreted. The IMPULSE project (IMmersive digitization: uPcycling cULtural heritage towards new reviving StratEgies, funded by Horizon Europe) aims to advance digital cultural heritage by creating immersive and interactive experiences that engage a wide range of audiences with diverse digitized artifacts: two-dimensional manuscripts and early printed Renaissance works, three-dimensional material objects, historic sites and buildings, multimodal datasets and volumetric archives of oral history and testimonies. The coexistence of tangible and intangible heritage originating from a plethora of European academic and cultural institutions in virtual and immersive environments showcases an example of how cultural heritage can challenge established notions of temporality, im/materiality, rigid academic disciplinary boundaries and center-periphery relations. In my presentation, I aim to focus on the creative (re)use of multimodal digitized artifacts within multi-user virtual environments. By focusing on iterative, participatory methodologies and research through design, IMPULSE fosters the accessibility and interoperability of digital cultural heritage according to the FAIR data principles, allowing user communities to critically engage with digitized artifacts. A core component of the project is a series of co-creation workshops leading up to a final Hackathon in June 2026. By presenting the most recent findings, my presentation will demonstrate how, in these workshops, diverse communities of researchers, students, artists and heritage professionals have the opportunity to interact with cultural heritage in virtual settings, resulting in creative reinterpretations of artifacts that juxtapose, challenge and redefine the established narratives.