“Notes on the Margins” – Closing Events of the Kuldīga Municipality Residency in Skrunda, Nīkrāce and Rudbārži

Event venue: Skrunda, Nīkrāce, and Rudbārži, Kuldīga Municipality, Latvia
Date: 26 September 2026 – Skrunda, Nīkrāce, and Rudbārži (event time to be announced)

“Notes on the Margins” is an international residency for creative practitioners organized in collaboration with Liepāja 2027 – European Capital of Culture. The residency fosters dialogue between contemporary artistic practice and the local cultural and historical heritage by inviting artists and writers to engage with the communities of Kuldīga Municipality and create new works inspired by local stories, people, and places.

This year’s residency theme, “Illustrated Stories,” encourages participants to explore the history, myths, legends, and personal narratives of local communities, interpreting them through a variety of artistic disciplines, including visual art, literature, photography, design, and other creative practices.

The 2026 residency brings together five creative practitioners from Latvia, Estonia, France, and Spain: Andra Manfelde (Skrunda), Eva Strazdiņa (Padure), Martine Leafon (Alsunga), Aleksandr Tishkov (Nīkrāce), and Blanca Prieto (Rudbārži). Throughout August, each resident lives and works in their assigned location, meeting local residents and discovering their stories, everyday lives, and cultural heritage, which serve as inspiration for new artistic works.

The residency culminates in a public art journey across Kuldīga Municipality, inviting visitors to experience the works created during the residency through exhibitions, performances, readings, and other artistic events.

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; its partner in legal matters SIA “Sorainen ZAB”, Ltd; its land mobility partner, SIA “Lux Express Latvia”, Ltd; alongside its maritime mobility and international communication partner SIA “Stena Line”, Ltd; The Foundation’s media partners are: VSIA “Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs”, Ltd; SIA “Tvnet grupa”, Ltd; and AS “Kurzemes Radio”, Jsc.