The Center of Excellence in Arts Education (MIKC) Liepāja Music, Art and Design Secondary School (LMMDV), as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, continues to implement the “Craft + Design” project and invites interested participants to attend two public guest lectures.
The aim of the project is to promote creative collaboration among LMMDV students, teachers, craftspeople, researchers, designers, and the wider public. The project focuses on developing design prototypes based on sustainable material use, the exploration of traditional craftsmanship skills, and the search for contemporary design solutions.
The project highlights material research, the application of materials in contemporary design, and circular approaches to sustainability. It focuses both on the reuse of existing resources and the exploration of new applications, as well as the potential of innovative and environmentally friendly materials.
In June, 2026, the public is invited to attend two online guest lectures on material research, sustainability, and the application of materials in design:
- June 16, 2026 at 11:00 — lecture by Zane Bērziņa
- June 26, 2026 at 11:00 — lecture by Sarmīte Poļakova
Register for the lectures by June 5, 2026 by filling out the online form
The public guest lectures will serve as the introductory phase of the project and as a source of inspiration for future creative work. They will highlight topics related to the origin, sustainability, circulation, and contemporary application of materials in design. The lectures will provide LMMDV students with a theoretical and professional foundation for future practical work, while also offering the wider public an opportunity to explore current international trends in design, materials research, and sustainable thinking.
The practical phase of the project will take place from September, 2026 through February, 2027. During this period, LMMDV students will work closely with artisans, designers, and researchers from the RTU Liepāja Center for Natural and Engineering Sciences, as well as LMMDV educators and mentors Barbara Ābele and Guna Poga. Together, they will explore materials, technologies, and material-processing techniques while developing experimental design prototypes.
The practical workshops will include both traditional craft techniques and their contemporary, innovative applications.
The second guest lecture will be led by designer Sarmīte Poļakova, founder of the material design and research studio “Studio Sarmīte”. The studio focuses on transforming industrial waste and various by-products into innovative closed-loop solutions. The life cycle of materials and products plays a central role in the studio’s approach, encouraging ideas that value sustainability and circularity over simple longevity.
The studio’s design practice is rooted in hands-on experimental research and the creative adaptation of existing design and manufacturing methods. This playful and exploratory approach often leads to unexpected discoveries that challenge conventional patterns of production, consumption, and waste generation.
The materials and processes developed by “Studio Sarmīte” are applied both in the studio’s own projects and in client commissions, continuously exploring the relationships between materials, art, science, and design. Previous collaborators include Adidas, Universal Design Studio, Hirsch, Vitra, Levi’s, and others.
“Craft + Design” is implemented within the programme “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” with funding from the Ministry of Culture, the City of Liepāja, and the municipalities of Dienvidkurzeme and Kuldīga.
Additional information about the project: lmmdv.edu.lv/amats-plus-dizains-2026
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”, legal partner: Sorainen Law Office, Ltd., Jsc; and its land mobility partner, SIA “Lux Express Latvia”, Ltd. Media partners: VSIA “Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs”, Ltd. and AS “Kurzemes Radio”, Jsc.
Information prepared by
Liepāja Music, Art and Design Secondary School
www.lmmdv.edu.lv
