The Liepāja 2027 Foundation is announcing an open co-financing call for the implementation of events within the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme. The call is designed to inspirit the (un)rest programme with contemporary, high-quality cultural events created in partnership with independent organisations from across Latvia.
“For Liepāja 2027, we imagined a cultural space without walls. As open, curious, and alive space, where local voices and European perspectives meet in honest dialogue and expand one another’s horizons. The most unforgettable cultural experiences are born when people dare to show up with their whole selves. That is the heart of this call. I invite you to create events where bravery meets imagination, where the soul of this place becomes a spark, and where (un)rest turns into a creative current that binds people, the city, the region, and Europe,” says Baiba Bartkeviča, Artistic Director of Liepāja 2027.
Applications may be submitted under seven Liepāja 2027 project frameworks: “Opening”, “Europe Day”, “Nordic Solstice”, “No More Heavy Metal”, “At the Happy Table”, “Poetry Days” and “Youth Forum”. Each project has defined activity areas and corresponding co-financing amounts.
Under the “Opening” project, co-financing of up to 18,000 euros is available for the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 opening events in Aizpute, and up to 80,000 euros for the opening celebration stage programme in Liepāja. Co-financing of up to 25,000 euros is available for the implementation of “Europe Day” in 2027.
“Nordic Solstice” framework will support three areas of activity: up to 15,000 euros for the “Sun Punk Castle” writing residency; up to 30,000 euros for an environmental education and public engagement event; and up to 60,000 euros for a programme of modern interpretations of traditional rituals.
Under “No More Heavy Metal”, proposals may be submitted for a contemporary circus programme with co-financing of up to 50,000 euros, and for the art and community outreach programme “Beautiful, Together, Sustainable” with up to 50,000 euros.
“At the Happy Table” opens up to 10,000 euros in additional funding for gastronomy programme activities and up to 20,000 euros for the social connection programme. The children’s reading programme during “Poetry Days” 2027 is eligible for up to 25,000 euros, while the youth festival “Future Institute” is eligible for up to 50,000 euros.
The total co-financing available under this call is 433,000 euros. Eligible costs include content creation, production and project management, venue hire, remuneration for artistic, technical and administrative staff, purchase of materials and equipment rental, travel and accommodation expenses, and marketing and communication activities.
Applications may be submitted by organisations registered as legal entities in the Enterprise Register of the Republic of Latvia. Applicants must be private companies or organisations.
On Monday, 18 May, at 16:00, an informational webinar on filling out project applications will be held on the Zoom platform. Webinar participants will receive thorough information on the application requirements and evaluation criteria. We will explain the procedure for preparing project documentation and applications and provide practical advice on how to successfully implement projects and prepare final reports. Please register for the seminar by May 17 by filling out the form.
Please submit your applications no later than by 16 June 2026 at 23:59, by e-mail to birojs@liepaja2027.lv and anna.liga.ermansone@liepaja2027.lv.
The (un)rest programme of Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 is implemented by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, with funding allocated by the City of Liepāja, the South Kurzeme and Kuldīga municipalities, and the Ministry of Culture. The “Liepāja 2027” programme is supported by its main partner in environmental education and sustainability, AS “CleanR Grupa”, Jsc; its main partner in air mobility and international communications, AS “airBaltic Corporation”, Jsc; and its land mobility partner, SIA “Lux Express Latvia”, Ltd. Media partners: VSIA “Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs”, Ltd. and AS “Kurzemes Radio”, Jsc.
Liepāja 2027 Foundation
Project Director
Anna Līga Ermansone
Phone: +371 26 239 999
E-mail: anna.liga.ermansone@liepaja2027.lv
On Friday, 29 May, at 17:00, the contemporary art exhibition “At Ease!” will open at the storefronts of 36/38 Graudu Street in Liepāja, where it will remain on view until 29 June. Organised by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, the exhibition brings together artworks that explore creative practices of peacebuilding.
On Wednesday, April 29, as part of the Liepāja 2027 activities, a Culture Breakfast was held at the Vērgale Culture Center, South Kurzeme region. During this event, at the participants’ proposal, the focus was on community involvement in event planning and organization, as well as volunteer participation in the event process.
Marking Europe Day, on May 9, 2026, a research presentation will be held at the Kuldīga Art House. The event will also serve as a shared experience and an open conversation about how we, local Europeans, imagine our lives, our society, and our future. The research was developed by Democracy Foundation as part of the programme “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027.”