Between 17 April and 5 May 2026, the second stage of ideas competition – a hackathon of the “Neighbourliness” community programme under Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 concluded with eight community initiatives receiving microgrant support totalling 5,000 euros. The programme’s aim is to strengthen cooperation among local communities, encourage resident participation, and nurture new cultural initiatives in Liepāja, South Kurzeme and Kuldīga regions.
The intensive creative process got under way on 17 April, when eight teams worked alongside mentors to develop their ideas and present them to a jury. On 5 May, the teams submitted detailed project applications, competing for funding to bring their projects to life.
Four projects received the highest recognition:
- 1st place – Association “Kuršu kopiena” with their project “Together at the Bread Table” – 1,000 euros
- 2nd place – Liepāja Lithuanian Cultural Association “Rūta” with the project “The Open Liepāja Courtyard of Cultures” – 900 euros
- 3rd place – Aizpute Renaissance Association, project “(un)rest Path of Light: The Story of Aizpute” – 800 euros
- 4th place – Association “Kontyniuum” and their project “Relief. The Polīši Ravines in Kuldīga Region” – 700 euros
A further four initiatives each received 400 euros in support: the associations “Sventāja”, “Kuldīga Senior School” and “Liepāja Residency and Cultural Centre”, as well as community activist Aija Birzniece with her project “(un)rest Midsummer in OTAS”.
The community-building and cultural projects will be implemented at various locations across Kurzeme between June and August 2026. These will include the “Pļava” festival, the community celebration “Together at the Bread Table”, the “Ventspils Street Creative Courtyard”, the “Ezerkrasts Neighbourhood Picnic” and the contemporary Midsummer celebration “(un)rest Midsummer in OTAS”.
The projects engage local residents in creative workshops, shared cooking, concerts, environmental clean-up, the creation of light installations, and neighbourhood improvements. Several initiatives place particular emphasis on strengthening local identity and preserving cultural and historical heritage.
The “Pļava” festival will focus on stories about medicinal plants, herbal teas, and sauna traditions. The “Together at the Bread Table” project in Rucava will gather generations of residents for a shared bread baking, white butter making, songwriting, games, and Latvian folk dances. In Aizpute, a joint single urban light installation will be created, with its illumination planned for January 2027 to coincide with the launch of the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme year.
The “Neighbourliness” programme promotes resident participation, mutual cooperation, and the emergence of new community traditions, deepening a sense of belonging to one’s neighbourhood and community. All residents are welcome to take part in the events, including young people and minority diasporas.
The Liepāja 2027 “Neighbourliness” programme is implemented by the association NEXT, with funding from the City of Liepāja, South Kurzeme Municipality, Kuldīga Municipality, and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. 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; and its land mobility partner, SIA “Lux Express Latvia”, Ltd. Media partners: VSIA “Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs”, Ltd. and AS “Kurzemes Radio”, Jsc.
For more information:
Liepāja 2027 Foundation
Public Participation Project Manager
Andra Strautiņa
Phone: +371 28 755 665
E-mail: andra.strautina@liepaja2027.lv
