The first edition of the 3D-4CH Winter School took place on 21–23 January 2026 at the Art & History Museum in Brussels. The event inaugurated the seasonal schools programme of the Online Competence Centre 3D-4CH – an EU-funded initiative supporting skills development, interoperability, and innovation in the field of 3D cultural heritage. Over 100 participants from across Europe, including representatives of PCSS, gathered to explore the impact of 3D digitisation, extended reality (XR), and digital storytelling on heritage practices.
The “Winter School” opened with a focus on European policy, strategic synergies, and capacity building. The growing role of 3D technologies within the EU’s digital and cultural agenda was highlighted. Rehana Schwenninger-Ladak (DG CNECT, European Commission) outlined the broader context of the event, emphasising that 3D digitisation strengthens Europe’s cultural heritage ecosystem by fostering digital skills, FAIR data practices, cross-border collaboration, and long-term sustainability.
Géraldine David, Director of the Art & History Museum, welcomed participants and pointed to the connections between the museum’s collection of plaster casts—early examples of 3D representation—and contemporary digital approaches. Nick Mols, representing the museum as host, underlined the importance of holding the Winter School in a museum setting in order to showcase digital innovation in practice. Marco Medici, Coordinator of the 3D-4CH project, presented the overarching mission of the initiative: equipping institutions with the skills and knowledge needed to make digital heritage accessible, engaging, and sustainable.
The morning session featured a showcase of Digital Europe projects led by Fulgencio Sanmartín (DG CNECT). Key European initiatives were presented, including the Europeana TwinIt! campaign (Part II), the Online Competence Centre 3D-4CH, and XRculture—the latter focusing on the reuse of 3D content within the European Data Space. Complementary Horizon Europe projects such as 3DBigDataSpace, EUreka3D-XR, ARTEMIS, StratiGraph, and Textailes emphasised interoperability, shared standards, and collaboration among EU-funded initiatives.
Afternoon sessions, moderated by Marco Medici, examined best practices for implementing 3D technologies in cultural institutions. Topics included mass digitisation workflows, dynamic 3D collections, accessibility for visually impaired users, and institutional engagement strategies. The day concluded with a discussion on data storage solutions, web viewers, and heritage data management, including updates on the 3D-heritage.eu platform and the Share3D Dashboard. These tools effectively bridge strategic policy with technical infrastructure and practical implementation.
Day 2: Digitisation in Practice and Applied Workflows
The second day shifted the focus from strategy to hands-on learning. A selected group of participants took part in intensive workshops led by Fabio Remondino and Elisa Mariarosaria Farella (FBK), working directly with museum artefacts. They explored photogrammetry techniques, structured-light scanning, and Gaussian splatting. At the same time, XR storytelling sessions led by the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision presented immersive approaches tailored to cultural heritage needs. The workshops provided insight into technical choices and best practices faced by institutions when carrying out real-world 3D digitisation projects.
Day 3: From Acquisition to Publication
The final day completed the 3D workflow—from data capture to dissemination. Participants reviewed digitisation techniques and visited the Plaster Casts Workshop, where they learned about the historical role of plaster casts in reproducing and sharing works of art. This reflection revealed parallels with contemporary 3D reproductions used for education and reuse. The closing session focused on acquiring, licensing, storing, and publishing metadata through the Share3D Dashboard, giving participants hands-on experience in managing 3D data. By the end of the Winter School, attendees had gained a comprehensive understanding of the full 3D project lifecycle, combining theory, technology, and institutional practice.
Summing up the event, Marco Medici emphasised the broader role of the Winter School within the Online Competence Centre 3D-4CH:
— “The Winter School demonstrated exactly what the Online Competence Centre 3D-4CH was created for: connecting policy, research, and practice. What matters now is continuity—supporting professionals after the event, strengthening their competences over time, and ensuring that 3D technologies become an integral and sustainable part of everyday heritage work across Europe.”
The first 3D-4CH Winter School laid solid foundations for future seasonal schools and training activities, fostering pan-European collaboration. We extend our sincere thanks to all consortium members, museum colleagues, trainers, and participants who contributed to the success of this event.
We encourage you to watch the video summing up the event.
