From Digital Models to Living Experiences: Poznań gathering on the future of 3D and XR in cultural heritage

30.07.2026Sparks

From 30 June to 2 July 2026, the Polish city of Poznań hosted a gathering of partners from the XRCulture, 3DBigDataSpace and 3D-4CH projects — cultural institutions, researchers and technology providers from across Europe — to share knowledge and discuss the future of 3D and XR technologies in cultural heritage interpretation. Arctur presented some of the most significant results to emerge from the projects, demonstrating how practical and accessible these technologies can already be for museums, tourist destinations and education.

Ambrož Černe, Project Manager at Arctur, presented four concrete scenarios on behalf of the XRCulture consortium — each tested with real users in authentic cultural heritage settings. One of these is the "XR for Heritage Tourism" scenario, led by Arctur. The solution is based on the automatic conversion of existing 3D models into short holographic videos, which visitors access by scanning a QR code on a postcard; when a simple plastic pyramid is placed on their phone or tablet, a three-dimensional hologram comes to life before their eyes. Alongside the holographic postcards, project partners developed three further scenarios: a mobile application for rapid 3D documentation of cultural objects in war-affected areas in Ukraine ("XR for Heritage at Risk"), a mixed reality experience that virtually reunites museum collections dispersed across different countries ("XR for Dispersed Heritage"), and VR-supported learning about ancient heritage, where the VR approach achieved comparable or better learning outcomes among school students than traditional teaching ("XR for Education").

The XRCulture project concluded at the end of July 2026, and Arctur continues its active involvement in the sister project 3D-4CH, where it leads the technical development of the European Online Competence Centre for 3D Cultural Heritage.

XRCulture, its synergies with other projects, and the Poznań gathering have all demonstrated that XR technologies are not reserved only for well-funded large museums or technology giants. When tools are designed to be simple, affordable and built around content that institutions already have, they become accessible to everyone — from a small regional museum to a tourist destination looking to offer its visitors something different and memorable.