“Notes on the Margins” – Kuldīga Municipality Residency for Creative Practitioners

Event venue: Kuldīga Municipality, Skrunda, Nīkrāce, Rudbārži, Alsunga, and Padure, Latvia

“Notes on the Margins” is an international artist residency organized in collaboration with Liepāja 2027 – European Capital of Culture. The residency aims to foster dialogue between contemporary artistic practice and the local cultural and historical heritage by inviting creative practitioners 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,” invites 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 will bring 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 will live and work in their assigned location, getting to know local residents, their stories, everyday lives, and the area’s cultural and historical heritage, which will serve as inspiration for new artistic works.

The residency will conclude with a public art journey across Kuldīga Municipality, inviting visitors to discover the works created during the residency through exhibitions, performances, readings, and other artistic events.

The closing events will take place on 25 September in Alsunga and Padure, and on 26 September in Skrunda, Nīkrāce, and Rudbārži. Event times will be announced at a later date.

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.