On 9 October 2026, the XR City Sound Hunts | Voicing the Musical Memory of Place programme brought together experiential design, musical heritage and immersive technologies through a seminar, practical workshop and city-based Sound Hunt in La Spezia, Italy.
Organised in the context of the Doctorate of National Interest in Artistic Research on Musical Heritage, the activities explored how sound and digital storytelling can shape our experience of a place.
From Experiential Design to Sound Hunt Creation
The morning session introduced the experiential design practices developed by Narratologies and the methodology behind XR City Sound Hunts.
Participants explored the Narratologies platform through a practical workshop, working on the creation of their own Sound Hunts. The session also included a Q&A and discussion on the approach and its possibilities.
Discovering La Spezia Through Sound
In the afternoon, the programme moved outdoors for a city Sound Hunt using the Narratologies app.
Participants explored La Spezia through sound, discovering connections between the urban environment, music and collective memory. The activity offered a practical way to experience how digital tools and interactive storytelling can encourage people to engage with their surroundings differently.
A Collaborative Research Experience
The programme was led by Natasha Papathoma and Aliki Iovita, co-founders of Narratologies, together with Lampros Katsaros and Katerina Zannou, researchers at Narratologies.
By combining research, hands-on creation and urban exploration, the workshop connected artistic research with practical experimentation in sound-based, location-aware experiences.
The activities contributed to the ongoing exploration of how immersive technologies can connect musical heritage, place and participation.
