Liepāja 2027 participates in the EU-Japan Fest General Committee Meeting in Tokyo

To strengthen international cooperation and develop new joint projects, Liepāja 2027, together with representatives from 12 other European Capitals of Culture, participated in the EU-Japan Fest General Committee Meeting in Tokyo from March 9 to 12.

Participation in the EU-Japan Fest General Committee Meeting is a significant step in shaping the international program of Liepāja 2027, opening new avenues for collaboration and promoting Latvia’s cultural presence on a global scale.

As part of the program, two seminars were held, focusing on the role of culture in the development of cities and regions.

The event opened with a presentation by Yurakucho Art Urbanism (YAU) and a discussion on the development of cultural programs in regions. The organization introduced the Yurakucho Cultural Program in Tokyo, highlighting the interaction between urban space and art, as well as opportunities to implement similar projects worldwide.

The second seminar explored the impact of European Capitals of Culture on city and regional development, along with the future challenges of the initiative. The seminar featured a presentation by Else Christensen-Redžepović, Artistic Director of Bad Ischl – Salzkammergut 2024 and a European Commission jury member, who emphasized the role of culture in regional growth. The discussion also covered the significance of the European Capital of Culture brand, as well as pressing geopolitical topics, including the war in Ukraine and the role of cultural projects in fostering solidarity.

As part of the General Committee program, an official reception was held at the German Embassy in Tokyo, attended by ambassadors from 12 countries, including Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Finland, Norway, France, Serbia, Ireland, Bulgaria, Malta, Portugal, Romania, and Slovenia. During the event, the newly appointed honorary chairman of EU-Japan Fest, Makato Takashima (Chairman of the Board, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation), was officially introduced. Additionally, all three 2024 European Capitals of Culture—Tartu, Bad Ischl – Salzkammergut, and Bodø—presented highlights of their past year’s events.

Liepāja 2027’s delegation met with Latvia’s Ambassador to Japan, Zigmārs Zilgalvis, who emphasized the importance of EU-Japan Fest as a platform that connects Japanese entrepreneurs with European Capitals of Culture, fostering long-term collaboration between the two regions.

Following these meetings, the next steps will focus on developing potential collaboration projects with EU-Japan Fest. Future cooperation goals include organizing an exhibition of a Japanese visual artist in Latvia, establishing joint projects in animation, glass art, photography, and other art forms, as well as advancing mobility and research exchange programs for artists and cultural professionals.

The event gathered representatives from ten European Capitals of Culture: Bodø 2024, Bad Ischl – Salzkammergut 2024, Tartu 2024, Chemnitz 2025, Nova Gorica 2025, Oulu 2026, Trenčín 2026, Liepāja 2027, Skopje 2028, and Lublin 2029. Liepāja 2027 was represented by its Chairperson of the Board, Inta Šoriņa.