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A light projection was displayed on Istanbul’s historic Galata Tower as part of a new initiative aimed at strengthening efforts to protect cultural heritage and prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural artifacts across Southeast Europe.
The project, launched in cooperation between the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), seeks to improve the protection of cultural heritage, prevent smuggling, and support more effective investigations into crimes involving cultural property. It also aims to step up cooperation and exchange of experience among countries in Southeast Europe in tackling organized crime and money laundering linked to cultural assets.
The initiative, launched under the auspices of Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gokhan Yazgi, is set to officially begin at Istanbul’s Tarik Zafer Tunaya Cultural Center later on the day.
As part of the project, a one-minute mapping show was projected onto Galata Tower between 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. to help raise awareness about protecting cultural heritage and preventing the illegal trafficking of historical artifacts.
During the show, the tower displayed messages in both Turkish and English, including “Artifacts Taken Away Return Home” and “A Face Returned, A Memory Restored,” drawing attention to the return and preservation of cultural heritage.
The opening event is expected to bring together international organizations and field experts, where the project’s key approaches and objectives will be shared.
The broader initiative is designed to strengthen regional collaboration against cross-border organized crime involving cultural property while helping countries share expertise on how to better safeguard historical assets.
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