At the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, a decision was approved to include the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Liepāja Central Scientific Library in UNESCO’s Calendar of Anniversaries for 2026–2027. The library’s anniversary will be celebrated in 2027, alongside the events of Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027.
The anniversary programme will be implemented in cooperation with the foundation “Liepāja 2027” as the main partner, with additional support from the National Library of Latvia, the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, and international partners. A significant conceptual framework for the anniversary programme is provided by the Liepāja Central Scientific Library’s project “Found in the Old Library”, which forms part of the Liepāja 2027 programme. Through research, exhibitions, educational and interdisciplinary activities, the project highlights the cultural and historical treasures preserved in the library’s collections.
Dagnija Baltiņa, Director of the National Library of Latvia and Ambassador of Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027, emphasises:
“Inclusion in UNESCO’s Calendar of Anniversaries will allow the historical and cultural values of Liepāja related to reading, book culture, and the development of libraries to be highlighted even more strongly in an international context, drawing attention to issues of intellectual history and Liepāja’s presence in international knowledge networks.”
Inclusion in UNESCO’s Calendar of Anniversaries represents a significant international recognition of the Liepāja Central Scientific Library’s more than two and a half centuries of activity and its contribution to the development of book culture, reading, and knowledge. At the same time, it opens up new opportunities to raise the profile of Liepāja’s cultural heritage on an international scale. As the anniversary year approaches, the public will be informed about programme activities.
“The aim of the Calendar of Anniversaries initiative is to highlight significant events in UNESCO Member States that have been decisive in advancing new ideas, as well as to honour individuals whose work has contributed to the development of education, science, culture, and other areas within UNESCO’s mandate,” notes Baiba Moļņika, Secretary-General of the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO.
In 2027, alongside the 250th anniversary of the Liepāja Central Scientific Library, the 150th anniversary of Anna Rūmane-Ķeniņa will also be commemorated. Previously, Latvia has marked a number of significant anniversaries in UNESCO’s Calendar of Anniversaries, including the 150th anniversaries of Rainis and Aspazija and of Jānis Rozentāls, the 100th anniversary of Latvia’s national cultural, educational and scientific institutions, the 200th anniversary of Krišjānis Valdemārs, 500 years of the Latvian book, and other important milestones.
The project “Found in the Old Library” is being implemented within the framework of the programme “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027”, using funding allocated by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, the City of Liepāja, and the municipalities of Dienvidkurzeme and Kuldīga.
On 11 April, Liepāja 2027 will take to the stage at Tallinn Music Week 2026’s City Stage to present the concept of Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027: (un)rest.
With this open call for artists to participate in the exhibition and symposium, the association “ASTE. Art, Science, Technology, Education” launches the project “ElektrON – The Future of Amber”, interpreting the heritage of amber—along with the future potential of other fossil materials—through a symbiosis of art and science, within the programme “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027”. Applications to participate in the project can be submitted by 23:59 on 19 April.
On July2, experimental music festival Skaņu Mežs will hold an exclusive mini-edition in the city of Liepāja, featuring musical acts and sound artists from Latvia, Japan, Norway, United Kingdom, Sweden and Germany.