EXPerience Local cultuRE with Gamification

forthcoming

EXPLORE transforms European cultural heritage through an innovative gamification strategy addressing critical sectoral challenges documented across Italy, Greece, and Ukraine. The project responds directly to evidenced needs: 76% of cultural professionals lack advanced digital skills (European Cultural Foundation), 67% of under-35 audiences demand interactive experiences (Eurostat 2024), and 78% of minor cultural sites receive less than 5% of regional visitors despite representing the majority of heritage assets. Through a distinctive transnational approach, EXPLORE will create 6 prototype gamification solutions (3 digital, 3 analog) connecting lesser-known cultural assets with contemporary audiences. The project will train 30 cultural professionals through an innovative 120-hour curriculum, establishing the first European certification for cultural gamification competencies. This will generate measurable impacts including a 40% increase in digital capabilities, 30% growth in audience engagement at participating sites, and the creation of 6 sustainable business models supporting post-project implementation. EXPLORE's consortium unites complementary expertise from UNISCO (Italy), CULTINVEST (Greece), and UCCI (Ukraine), leveraging established networks across three regions where cultural traditions face distinct preservation challenges. The project's integrated methodology combines co-creation with accessibility considerations, ensuring solutions reach 500 diverse participants including underrepresented groups. Beyond immediate outcomes, EXPLORE establishes a replicable model for cultural digitalization that balances technological innovation with authentic heritage interpretation – addressing Creative Europe's dual priorities of sectoral capacity-building and transnational circulation while supporting Ukrainian cultural resilience during conflict, creating a timely intervention with lasting European impact.