At the conference “Cultural Crossroads”, the opportunities and challenges in developing the Liepāja 2027 programme were discussed

On November 4, Inta Šoriņa, CEO of the Liepāja 2027, spoke at the international scientific conference “Cultural Crossroads” organized by the Latvian Academy of Culture.

In her presentation, she talked about the diversity of the Liepāja 2027 cultural programme, the process of its development, as well as the main directions and opportunities it offers to local communities and society as a whole.

At the beginning of the presentation, five key focus areas were highlighted – cooperation, environment-building, engagement, identity, and participation – which will be further examined and evaluated after 2027 in the context of culture, the economy, education, and civic involvement.

The next part of the presentation outlined six main tasks addressed during the creation of the (un)rest programme: assessing the region’s strategic moment and the need for continuity; mapping cultural organisations and potential partners; defining the themes and concept of the programme; identifying missing elements and enriching the programme with meaningful content; strengthening overall capacity; and ensuring successful implementation.

Inta also shared examples from Leeuwarden 2018 (Netherlands), Kaunas 2022 (Lithuania), and Bodø 2024 (Norway), illustrating how the title of European Capital of Culture has helped to raise awareness of urban greening, community participation, and the strengthening of local identity.

Many thanks to our colleagues for an inspiring and valuable conference day!
We are glad to be among the speakers and to highlight the importance of cultural diversity and accessibility in the regions!