The Smyrna Agora Experience Centre offers visitors the chance to explore Agora through various experience-enhancing activities and tools:
- Virtual Reality (VR)
- Mobile App
- Scale Model
- Board Game
- Digital Panel (Kiosk)
- Documentary
- Illustrated Map Design
- Brochure
- Photo Hotspot
Additionally, a new corporate identity was carried out for the Smyrna Agora within the scope of the project, and all the prepared images were considered in this integrity. The Smyrna Agora website is also part of the “Heritage Alive” project.
The Heritage Alive project aims to raise local, national and international awareness of the Smyrna Agora archaeological site and the enhance the overall visitor experience in the area by developing sustainable dialogue and cooperation in the international arena; to protect, promote and develop a deeper understanding of cultural heritage with reference to the Smyrna Agora.
The project is implemented by the Conservation and Development of City Values Association of İzmir with the great support of the Excavation Office of the Ancient City of Smyrna. Other partners include the Santagata Foundation and the University of Catania (both in Italy), alongside the Egaleo Asia Minor Association (Greece).
Moreover, they work towards strengthening networking and international cooperation via training programs, workshops, knowledge exchange, and praising positive practice (for promotion) whilst collaborating with international organizations that specialize in conserving, managing, and interpreting cultural heritage.
To establish partnerships between heritage NGOs, universities, institutions, and organizations in Turkey, Italy, and Greece, to share knowledge and experience about how to promote and interpret cultural heritage and archaeological sites.
To develop innovative promotional tools to make the Smyrna Agora a more widely known and understood heritage site, and to ensure that these tools are implemented and experienced by visitors in the field
To raise awareness about İzmir’s cultural heritage via workshops organized in cooperation with local and international cultural heritage experts, and foster a collective environment through them.
Promotional materials such as brochures, illustrated map, documentary film and board game, as well as a social media strategy and campaign are prepared to raise awareness of Smyrna Agora and its importance.
Beyond promotional materials that are developed, including a virtual reality (VR) application, a mobile application with augmented reality (AR) and multilingual audio guide features, a kiosk (digital panel) containing important information about the historical site, a Roman Era scale model, and a photo hotspot, Smyrna Agora is also on social media! Likewise, the new website is currently available in Turkish (Türkçe), English, Italian (Italiano), and Greek (Ελληνικά).
To date, countless cultural heritage workshops have been launched that cater to locals, children, university students, and cultural heritage professionals. The latter particularly calls out to İzmir-based stakeholders who have an interest in promoting and interpreting the city’s heritage, hence making the project highly sustainable.
Moreover, artisans from Kemeraltı (Turkey and İzmir’s largest open end bazaar) alongside contemporary designers have been commissioned to create one-of-a-kind souvenirs with a local flavour.
