The Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action CULTURATI—Customized Games and Routes for Cultural Heritage and Arts, funded by the European Union, concluded with a final meeting and evening reception held on January 30, 2026, at Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the project’s flagship pilot locations.
Coordinated by Bilkent University, the CULTURATI consortium brought together 14 partners from six countries—Italy, Finland, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and Türkiye. The final event welcomed over 200 participants, highlighting the role of digital innovation in protecting, reinterpreting and sustaining cultural heritage for future generations.
The event was attended by Bilkent researchers and project partners, as well as distinguished guests, including Harun Kaya, deputy governor of Ankara, and Mine Sofuoğlu, general manager of the İstanbul Rahmi M. Koç Museums.
The program was hosted by Heather Carter, managing director of the Blenheim Palace Visitor Attraction; Antonia Keaney, curator and social history researcher at Blenheim Palace; and Dominic Hare, chief executive officer, who warmly welcomed participants and underscored Blenheim Palace’s strong commitment to innovation and cultural heritage.
The event opened with keynote speeches by David Green, innovation manager at Blenheim Palace, who addressed the long-term potential of CULTURATI; Dr. Eda Gürel, project coordinator, who presented the vision and inspiration behind the project; and Prof. Levent Altınay, research lead, who highlighted the academic and societal impact of the project’s research outcomes.
Following three years of close collaboration, the final event marked the successful completion of the Horizon Europe–funded Research and Innovation Action, which delivered two fully developed prototype versions of an AI-supported visitor experience application for cultural heritage and the arts.
