From April 7 to 16, Silva Vucena and Elīna Jurberga, representatives of the Liepāja Central Scientific Library, participated in the international mobility program “Culture Moves Europe” visiting Évora, Portugal, for an experience exchange.
The Liepāja Library and the Évora Public Library (Biblioteca Pública de Évora) are both rich in history and boast extensive historical collections; moreover, both cities – Liepāja and Évora – will be European Capitals of Culture in 2027. In collaboration with the Évora Public Library, the visit provided an insightful overview into the operations of a public library housed in a historic building, including solutions to accessibility challenges, library collection organization, and user service processes, the management, preservation, and digitization of rare and historical library collections, the development of cultural and educational programs for various audiences, and other issues.
During the visit, representatives of the Liepāja Central Scientific Library also had the opportunity to meet with the creative team of the organization Evora_27 and discuss the involvement of libraries in both European Capitals of Culture – Liepāja and Évora – in the implementation of the cultural programme.
The “Culture Moves Europe” mobility project is funded by the European Union’s “Creative Europe” programme and implemented by the Goethe-Institut.
The exchange visit is part of the activities of the Liepāja Central Scientific Library project “Found in the Old Library.” The “Found in the Old Library” project is being implemented as part of the “Liepāja 2027 – European Capital of Culture” programme, using funding granted by the Ministry of Culture, the City of Liepāja, and the municipalities of South Kurzeme and Kuldīga.
Liepāja Central Scientific Library
The first event — the public discussion “Spawning is not a buffet” — will take place on April 25, 2026 at 4 PM on the Venta riverbank at the end of Ventspils Street, opposite the Kuldīga viewing tower. The event will conclude with a campfire concert.
This weekend, April 24 – 25, as part of the Liepāja 2027 – European Capital of Culture program, the 19th International Storytelling Festival “Ziv zup” (Fish Soup) will take place in Kuldīga and Alsunga, continuing to cherish and celebrate the region’s rich tangible cultural heritage – the storytelling tradition, traditional music, and cuisine.
On Wednesday, April 15, a representative of Liepāja 2027 participated in a Latvian tourism seminar organized by the Investment and Development Agency in Latvia (LIAA) at the Latvian Embassy in London, where British tourism industry professionals were introduced with the programme of events and tourism offerings for Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027.
