First Step Taken for the Exhibition Project That Will Uncover the Industrial Memory of Zonguldak

Hosted by the Zonguldak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZTSO), a coordination meeting was held for an important project that will shed light on the industrial past of the city. This meeting, where the paths were drawn for the exhibition project titled "Tracing the French Heritage in the Industrial Memory of Zonguldak" to be realized in collaboration with the Kadir Has University UNESCO Chair, seems to add great value to the cultural heritage of the city. At the meeting hosted by ZTSO Board Chairman Metin Demir, the cornerstones and progress processes of the project were discussed in detail. This joint study, which brings together academic, international, and local actors, aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on the history of the region. In the statements made after the meeting, the critical importance of the project on the identity and memory of the city was emphasized.

The roadmap to be followed and the preparation stages in the process of realizing the exhibition were laid on the table at a widely attended meeting. Details such as how the content of the project will be developed, which archives will be scanned, and how the implementation planning will be made were meticulously evaluated by experts. Emma Pillonel, Civil Society and Local Cooperation Officer of the Fransa Büyükelçiliği, and academicians Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Zehra İrem Türksezer Sağır and Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Solmaz Khoshkholghi from Kadir Has Üniversitesi attended the meeting. In addition, architect Derya Aydan and assistant student Mert Okay also participated in the meeting, contributing to the technical and practical dimensions of the project. This diverse and expert staff ensures that the exhibition is based on a scientific foundation and meets international standards.

Metin Demir, the Chairman of ZTSO, who made evaluations after the meeting, stated that Zonguldak should be known not only as a coal and industrial city but also as a center of a very rich industrial culture. Emphasizing that it is extremely valuable to research the French heritage, which has left deep marks in the history of the city, with an academic approach, Demir stated that this will strengthen the identity of the city. Chairman Demir expressed that the meticulous archival studies being crowned with an exhibition to be held will enable the local people and future generations to know the city better. It was pointed out that bringing the cultural memory of Zonguldak to light through such academic projects is of great significance in terms of city pride.

This joint study, carried out with the support of the Kadir Has Üniversitesi UNESCO Chair and the Fransa Büyükelçiliği, is expected to add significant value to Zonguldak. The studies to be carried out within the scope of the project are expected to directly affect the industrial heritage tourism of the city and create a new vision in this field. This exhibition, which will make a great contribution to cultural development, also has the potential to provide indirect benefits to the local economy through tourism. The exhibition, which will reveal the transformation of Zonguldak in the historical process and the French influence, will consolidate the unique position of the city in Turkey's industrial heritage. In addition, such international collaborations can increase the prestige of local history research and serve as an inspiration for similar projects.

Chairman Metin Demir concluded his speech by thanking all stakeholders who contributed to the project. Stating that the interest shown in the city and the close attention of the academic world to this project are satisfying, Demir renewed their determination to carry the historical heritage of the city to the future. It was underlined that the rich past of Zonguldak is not only a local story but also an international heritage. The details of the exhibition project, which will proceed in line with the decisions taken at the meeting, will continue to become clear in the coming days. This step, which will reshape the cultural and touristic vision of the city, assumes a critical role in the adoption of the industrial identity of Zonguldak by future generations.