The Liepāja 2027 Foundation is inviting young people from Liepāja, South Kurzeme and Kuldīga municipalities to apply for the 2026/2027 youth training and mentoring programme. 24 participants will be selected to take part, gaining practical experience in organising cultural events whilst working in teams to stage productions at four cultural venues across the Land of (un)rest.
The programme will run from October 2026 to June 2027, guiding participants through every stage of creating a cultural event – from forming a team and developing an idea, through to securing sponsors and delivering the finished project. The 24 participants will be divided into four teams of six, each responsible for organising an event at one of four venues: the “Pūt, vējiņi!” concert garden, the “Tipogrāfija Creative Quarter”, the Kuldīga Cultural Centre, and the “Robežnieki” Cultural Centre in Grobiņa county.
“Two seasons in, watching these young souls cross paths and keep that fire burning is like watching a well-tended garden burst into bloom – they just keep gathering, brimming with energy, and throwing fresh ideas onto the pile. We’re weaving former participants right back into the fabric of the initiative again this year; they’ll be sharing their journey, running workshops, and helping to scout the next generation. It’s transformed into a living ecosystem where youth don’t just gain practical skills and spark ideas into life, but actively flourish side by side, step into bigger shoes, and pass the torch to those coming up behind them”, shares Justīne Rusakova, Public Participation Project Manager at Liepāja 2027.
Training and preparation will take place in October – December 2026. The programme opens with a three-day intensive training course from 15 to 17 October. On 7 November, participants will visit the four cultural venues and form their teams; on 21 November, they will take part in team-building activities; and on 5 December, an ideation and brainstorming session will help each team develop its project canvas.
Practical training and project development will run right after that, from January to February 2027. The new year will start with a series of focused training sessions: event production and planning on 9 January, financial planning and budgeting on 16 January, attracting sponsors and partners on 30 January, and marketing and communication on 6 February. Throughout February, teams will continue working alongside their mentors, culminating in a dress rehearsal on 20 February and project presentations on 27 February.
Finally, the implementation is set for March – June 2027. The most practical part of the programme follows between March and June, as each of the four teams brings its event to life at its chosen venue in Liepāja, Kuldīga or South Kurzeme. Throughout this period, participants will continue to work closely with their Liepāja 2027 mentors, meeting regularly to review progress and resolve any practical challenges along the way.
Applications are open until 15 September via the online form.
Once applications close, submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee that includes graduates from previous seasons of the programme. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews – held either in person or online – between 21 and 27 September, after which the final 24 participants will be confirmed.
The Liepāja 2027 youth programme is delivered through the “You+” development platform.
The Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme is delivered by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, the City of Liepāja and official partners – the South Kurzeme and Kuldīga municipalities, with the co-founding from 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 “Žurnāls Santa”, Ltd; SIA “Tvnet grupa”, Ltd; and AS “Kurzemes Radio”, Jsc.
For more information:
Foundation Liepāja 2027
Public Participation Project Manager
Justīne Rusakova
Phone: +371 26 668 571
E-mail: justine.rusakova@liepaja2027.lv
