On Thursday, 15 October, the South Kurzeme Culture Breakfast was held at Bārta Culture Centre as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme. The event brought together representatives of the Bārta, Suiti, Curonian Kings and Rucava cultural communities to exchange experiences and discuss how to preserve, pass on and continue developing living cultural heritage in a contemporary way, while strengthening cooperation among the traditional cultural communities.
The event featured experience stories from four cultural communities in South Kurzeme Municipality. They highlighted both the strength of traditions and their importance in shaping community identity, as well as the challenges faced by those who preserve and continue intangible cultural heritage. Discussions focused on passing knowledge and skills on to future generations, involving local communities and finding ways to keep traditions alive in a changing everyday environment.
The Liepāja 2027 team introduced participants to the community mentoring programme, the project “5K – Five Cultural Communities, One Story” and the international conference “Cultural Renovation”. These initiatives are designed to encourage the exchange of experience, strengthen local communities and support the sustainable development of cultural heritage.
The gathering was complemented by musical performances from the Bārta Ethnographic Ensemble and the folklore group “Suitu dūdenieki”, allowing participants not only to discuss traditions but also to experience them through live performance.
South Kurzeme’s traditional cultural communities preserve knowledge, skills and stories accumulated over generations. By sharing experience, cooperating and involving local communities, it is possible to strengthen their vitality and create the conditions for traditions to be passed on and continued in ways that remain relevant today.
The South Kurzeme Culture Breakfast demonstrated that cultural heritage is not merely a testimony to the past – it continues to evolve through people’s everyday lives, relationships and collective action, shaping the many voices of the Land of (un)rest.
The project “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” is implemented by the foundation “Nodibinājums Liepāja 2027”, the Liepāja City Municipality, and official partners – the South Kurzeme Municipality and the Kuldīga Municipality. Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture. The Liepāja 2027 program is supported by its main partner in environmental education and sustainability, AS “CleanR Grupa”, main partner in air mobility and international communications, AS “Air Baltic Corporation”, partner in legal matters SIA “Sorainen ZAB”, land mobility partner, SIA “Lux Express Latvia”, maritime mobility and international communication partner SIA “Stena Line”. Media partners – VSIA “Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs”, SIA “Žurnāls Santa”, SIA “Tvnet grupa”, AS “Kurzemes Radio”.
Information prepared by
Ilze Elbere
Public Relations Specialist
Liepāja 2027 Foundation
Phone: +371 25 951 515
Email: ilze.elbere@liepaja2027.lv
