Liepāja Offers Nine Summer Events to Promote Restoration and Sustainable Living

Promoting the preservation of cultural heritage, this July, Liepāja invites residents and visitors to explore the art of restoration and the beauty of sustainable management through a diverse programme of free public events, masterclasses, and an international residency for professionals.

The series of events is held under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s (EIT) “New European Bauhaus” (NEB) project “From Know-How To Do-How” and is implemented in Latvia by the Liepāja Restoration Centre in cooperation with the Foundation “Liepāja 2027”.

“From practical workshops to educational activities and discussions, we aim to connect people to the value of built Liepāja cultural heritage, while empowering them with practical, sustainable skills,” explains Ivars Pilips, Director of the Liepāja Restoration Centre. “This year, we’re proud to welcome partners from Italy and the Czech Republic, who’ll share their expertise and add an international dimension to our local efforts.”

A month-long exploration of restoration begins on 5 July at 12:00 with the opening event “From Know-How To Do-How – Historical Heritage In Today’s Context” at Liepāja Peter’s Market. Experts from across Latvia – including Ivars Pilips (Liepāja), Inese Tauriņa (Aizpute), and Ilze Zariņa (Kuldīga) – will discuss on the relevance of historic heritage, share best practices in preservation, and highlight how New European Bauhaus values are finding expression in everyday life. Alongside the talks, visitors can join creative public workshops: “Paint Liepāja” with artist Agnese Rudzīte, and “Seed Pom-Pom Making” with the Science and Education Innovation Centre.

The following weeks will offer two community events and four hands-on experiences with experts for those who like DIY approach and eager to roll up their sleeves:

• On 9 July at 12:00, the “Sustainable Landscape Garden” session at the Liepāja Restoration Centre, guided by gardener and landscape architect Kristīne Pouzou. The workshop will tackle practical topics – from choosing the right plants and understanding sunlight patterns to achieving harmony in garden design and functionality.
• On 11 July at 12:00, the focus shifts to historic craftsmanship with the “Maintenance of Wooden Windows” masterclass, also at the Liepāja Restoration Centre. Traditional paint master and restorer Edgars Raitums will demonstrate the principles of preserving and restoring heritage windows – covering everything from puttying and linseed oil painting to smart insulation solutions.
• A practical community restoration event will take place on 17 July at 16:00 at Anna’s Market Square in Jaunliepāja, where participants can bring old but still usable items – chairs, tables, mirrors, cabinets, and windows – and learn how to restore them with professional guidance. At the same time, a “chest” of untold stories about Jaunliepāja will be opened, offering locals the chance to share memories, anecdotes, and reflections on their neighbourhood’s past and present.
• On 18 July at 12:00, a practical masterclass on the “Restoration of Lime Masonry” at the Liepāja Restoration Centre, led by craftsman mason Oskars Ķimenis. The session will cover traditional techniques, restoration materials, and the nuanced use of lime- and clay-based plasters – offering a hands-on understanding of this age-old building craft.
• On 19 July at 12:00, a public improvement event at Baata Market, where locals will work together to enhance the market’s surroundings and visual identity. Residents of Jaunliepāja will share their experiences of community building and engagement, and together a vision for the future of the market will be shaped, grounded in local strengths and aspirations.
• On 24 July at 12:00, Nora Sudmale – an eco-technology expert and sustainable gardening practitioner – will lead a masterclass titled “Smells or Stinks? The Secrets of Compost” at the Liepāja Restoration Centre. The session will reveal the most effective ways to compost at home, transforming organic waste into nutrient-rich garden gold.

From 21–23 July, practical restoration work will also take place at St. Anna’s Church in collaboration with Lithuanian specialists from “FIXUS Mobilis,” a cultural heritage preservation initiative.

The programme concludes on 26 July at 12:00 with a garden party at the Liepāja Restoration Centre: “Sustainable. Beautiful. Inclusive – The New Standard of Living.” The event will highlight residents’ achievements, share stories from the residency, and offer space to connect with local communities and restoration professionals in a relaxed and festive atmosphere.

All events are free of charge, and participation in masterclasses requires prior registration.

About the Project

The EIT Community New European Bauhaus (NEB) is funded by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology and supports citizens, grass-roots initiatives and startups that embody the core values of the European Commission’s New European Bauhaus movement (sustainability, inclusivity and beauty) through business creation & acceleration, funding, mentorship and network.

The Enhance NEB programme supports the scaling and replication of successful projects previously funded through Connect NEB or Co-create NEB. Delivered by the EIT Community New European Bauhaus and funded by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology, the programme funds consortia of cities, regions or municipalities and local organisations to expand or adapt initiatives that transform the built environment in line with NEB values of sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics.

Since 2023, the Liepāja Restoration Centre has served as Latvia’s official partner of the New European Bauhaus, with additional support from the State Culture Capital Foundation’s “Development Programme for Latvian Historical Lands”, as part of the Kurzeme Culture Programme 2025, implemented by the Kurzeme Planning Region.

Additional information

Liepāja Restoration Centre
Ivars Pilips, Director and Founder
Phone: +371 26 977 080
E-mail: liepajas.restauracija@gmail.com

Released by

Foundation “Liepāja 2027”
Public Relations and Marketing Department
Phone: +371 26 445 289
E-mail: komunikacija@liepaja2027.lv