To nurture a stronger sense of belonging across the entire Land of (Un)rest, the second round of the community strengthening and support programme “Neighbourliness”, organised by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, will begin this November.
This year, the programme has attracted 50 participants from the municipalities of Liepāja, South Kurzeme, and Kuldīga, representing a total of 27 neighbourhoods and parishes – including Aizpute, Bārta, Bernāti, Durbe, Grobiņa, Nīca, Rucava, Saka Parish, Liepāja residential districts of Ezerkrasts, Jaunliepāja, Karosta, Vecliepāja and others.
“A little more than half of the programme’s participants have not previously been involved in any associations, yet their enthusiasm shows a genuine sense of care and responsibility for their surroundings. The first year of “Neighbourliness” proved that the programme offers not only practical knowledge and inspiration but also the chance to meet new like-minded people and bring ideas to life. This year, we hope to see many creative initiatives and inspiring encounters,” says Justīne Rusakova, Public Participation Project Manager at Liepāja 2027.
The new programme cycle will open on 28 November with a workshop “Values as a Community Force”, led by Swedish coach, artist, and writer Henric Johansson. The session will help participants identify the core values on which to build their communities’ future development. Workshops and meetings will follow monthly throughout the programme.
In December, forum theatre expert Agnese Lapsiņa will guide participants in exploring creative approaches to community challenges. In January, movement artist Kristīne Brīniņa will lead a session on strengthening community ties through movement and body language. February will bring a digital art workshop with Maija Demitere, exploring how technology and artificial intelligence can enhance communication and self-expression within communities. In March, documentary filmmaker Helēna Zīlīte will hold a masterclass on crafting and sharing authentic community stories.
The programme will conclude in April 2026 with an idea hackathon, where participants will develop their initiatives and prepare them for a microgrant competition. The most promising ideas will receive financial support for implementation.
As previously reported, the “Neighbourliness” is a creative and practical initiative designed to build stronger communities through cultural, artistic, and social engagement. It fosters cooperation between neighbours and shared responsibility for the territory known as the Land of (un)rest. The first cycle of the programme, held from September 2024 to spring 2025, supported 11 new community initiatives.
The activities of the second round of “Neighbourliness” will be implemented by the association “Next”. The programme is organised by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation in cooperation with the Liepāja City Municipality, the South Kurzeme and Kuldīga municipalities, and with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia.
Justīne Rusakova
Liepāja 2027 Foundation
Public Participation Project Manager
Phone: +371 26 668 571
E-mail: justine.rusakova@liepaja2027.lv
On November 4, Inta Šoriņa, CEO of the Liepāja 2027, spoke at the international scientific conference “Cultural Crossroads” organized by the Latvian Academy of Culture.
