ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

On this page, you will find the consortium’s activities. We will include partner meetings, co-creation seminars with students, as well as participation in conferences or events related to the dissemination of the project.

TRANSNATIONAL MEETINGS

1st Transnational Meeting (Italy, March 4-6th, 2024) : Isernia

This first meeting brought together 14 participants (2 of whom joined online). Three days were dedicated to productive and practical communication and discussions among the partners, fueled by progress in game development (prototype version by Holy Moka Games) and the initial work on the beta version, scheduled for testing in spring 2024, along with the prototype scientific/pedagogical document provided by MNHN.

Southeast Asia has been selected as the first region to be implemented in the game. Students and partners will be able to test the newly added features and follow the pedagogical path designed to guide players through the key challenges of heritage preservation in the designated area.

2nd Transnational Meeting (Italy, July 12-16, 2024) : Isernia

This meeting was organized in several sessions during part of the gathering in Isernia, Italy. It brought together 13 participants from the entire partnership and one from the Indonesian associated partners.

Several aspects of the game were discussed, particularly the content and form of the educational elements within the game, the narrative and the universe in which players navigate, as well as the mechanics that promote teamwork, such as the implementation of a team budget that is collectively collected and managed.

Additionally, elements encouraging player exploration were considered, including the integration of cultural anecdotes related to the region being explored.

3rd Transnational Meeting (France, September 2024) : Les Eyzies

This 3.5-day meeting, which brought together 15 participants, was the first to include the external reviewer (Savoie Mont Blanc University, France). The partners presented both the current version of the game and its planned future developments.

Brainstorming sessions were also held to discuss elements of previous updates, such as the in-game management of team budgets and the general economy implemented into the game.

The idea of integrating artificial intelligence into the game was also discussed and ultimately set aside, in order to ensure the highest possible level of scientific accuracy for players.

4rd Transnational Meeting (Italy, March 2025) : Isernia

The Herit-Aware project was invited to organize a presentation of the game for a group of 19 Master’s students enrolled in the International Master in Quaternary and Prehistory, during a joint methodology course held in Isernia, Italy.

Several project partners were already involved in the school. Additionally, the project coordinator and the Italian partner invited other consortium members, such as representatives from Holy Moka Games and MNHN. During the event, testing sessions were conducted to gather feedback from the students.

The occasion also served as an opportunity to hold a transnational project meeting. Discussions focused on the development of the Italian game zone, the upcoming beta testing session scheduled for June, and the organization of the second Intensive School, to be held in Hungary in July.

INTENSIVE SCHOOLS

1st Intensive School (Italy, July 2024) : Isernia

The first intensive school took place in Isernia (Molise, Italy), in municipal facilities closely connected to the UNIFE partner and located near the Isernia Paleolithic Museum. It brought together 18 students from 11 countries, representing 8 different academic programs or majors.

Most of the students were at the undergraduate graduation level (L3), but the school also included several Master’s students and one doctoral student. A total of 16 teachers, researchers, and experts participated in the event.

The week featured working sessions on the Herit-Aware game, brainstorming and co-construction activities. Cultural site visits and discussions with specialists on heritage management were also organized. All participants took part in a role-playing game, Ars Custodia, specially created for the occasion by Gabriele L.F. Berruti and Lorenzo Testi, which helped assess the learning dynamics within such a diverse group.

DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES

The 11th Apheleia Seminar (Portugal, April 2025) : Maçao

The 11th Apheleia Seminar brought together over 100 participants from Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. The event focused on integrated landscape management for sustainability, with particular attention to the social and cultural transformation of communities. This initiative also marked the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The outcomes of the seminar will be published as a contribution to the UNESCO BRIDGES program and the United Nations Decade of Science for Sustainable Development. Among the participating projects was Herit-Aware, which contributed to discussions on heritage, archaeology, and cultural transformation. The presentation by Hugo Gomes and Sara Garcês covered the co-creation process of the game, the testing conducted with diverse audiences, and preliminary results in the context of community engagement and heritage education.

C.A.S.T Convention (Italy, March 2025) : Florence

“Ars Custodia” is an educational and strategic game developed as a spin-off of the HeritAware project by the Palaeolithic Holding Group, led by Gabriele Luigi Francesco Berruti with Lorenzo Testi. Launched during the 2024 Herit-Aware Summer School in Isernia, the game trains students from diverse backgrounds in cultural heritage management.

Through realistic, team-based simulations, players design projects to enhance cultural sites, balancing conservation, accessibility, and research. The game involves negotiations with local authorities, digital tools, and problem-solving challenges. Flexible and adaptable to any cultural context, Ars Custodia is more than a game—it’s an innovative educational tool that prepares future professionals for sustainable heritage preservation.