On April 22-23, 2024, the 2nd International GRADE Workshop took place at Postane in Türkiye, bringing together academics, professionals, and activists from around the world. The workshop focused on grassroots digital movements, fostering collaborative efforts across various sectors. Over the course of two days, participants engaged in discussions and activities centered on different aspects of digital culture, creative computing, and community-driven initiatives.
Day 1: Monday, April 22, 2024
The event began on Sunday evening with a social mixer at Taproomx, setting a relaxed tone for the days ahead.
Monday morning saw participants gathering for registration and coffee before delving into the first session. Working Group 1 focused on demoscene culture and digital cultural heritage. This included a roundtable discussion led by Arda Erdikmen, Bilgem Çakır, and Sedat Kapanoğlu, followed by a panel that explored the role of women in the history of games and gaming in Türkiye, with insights from Balca Arda, Simay Dinç, and Meral Didar Güzelkara. These discussions underscored the importance of representation and preservation within digital subcultures.
After lunch, Working Group 2 presented open educational materials related to creative computing and the circular economy. The session was followed by two Repair Café workshops, led by Caner G. Yalın and Ramazan Subaşı, where attendees learned hands-on repair techniques for electronics, reflecting an emphasis on sustainability and practical skill-building in digital practices.
The day concluded with a welcome dinner at Litera Restaurant, providing attendees with the opportunity to network and share thoughts on the day’s topics.
Day 2: Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Tuesday began with the focus shifting to Working Group 3, which centered around the completion of a white paper on technology and gaming publishing in Türkiye. A panel discussion featuring Levent Pekcan and Ertuğrul Süngü provided valuable insights into the development of gaming journalism and digital publishing, sparking a dynamic conversation about the future of these industries.
In the afternoon, a joint session brought together all three working groups for a workshop on Creative Computing in collaboration with Wikipedia Türkiye. Led by Erkan Saka, Zafer Batık, and Başak Tosun, the session emphasized the importance of digital literacy and collaborative content creation in grassroots movements. The day wrapped up with discussions on the upcoming 2024/25 budget, as well as future academic publishing projects.
For those unable to attend in person, the event was available via Zoom, ensuring global participation and engagement.
Stay tuned for updates on the outcomes of the workshop and future GRADE initiatives!