Over the weekend, 30 young people from Liepāja, South Kurzeme and Kuldīga took to the stage to present their culture venue development ideas as part of the Liepāja 2027 youth development pilot programme. After a day of pitching, the jury awarded the main prize of €1,000 to the team behind “Ravegrieži”, a summer solstice rave set to take place in Kuldīga on 20 June.
The presentations showcased the diverse talents and ambitions of six youth teams, who proposed new ways to activate and expand the audience of existing cultural spaces. These include development and young audiences boosting ideas for the Liepāja amateur theatre “Projekts”, the Great Amber Concert Hall, the Liepāja Craftsmen’s House, Karosta’s “Atmodas dārzs”, the South Kurzeme-based association “Mēs Bernātiem”, and the creative hangar space “Vieta” in Kuldīga.
Each team was evaluated by musician, comedian and event organiser Ralfs Eilands, theatre actress Signe Dancīte, Deputy Head of the Liepāja Culture Department Nauris Lazdāns, and Liepāja 2027 Digital Communication Project Manager Elizabete Hartmane. The jury assessed the quality of the ideas, the teams’ presentation and communication skills, their ability to engage partners, develop production plans, and ultimately bring their projects to life.
“The involvement of young people is an essential part of the European Capital of Culture process,” said Inta Šoriņa, Chair of the Board of Liepāja 2027. “It gives us the chance to look at cultural processes through a new prism and empowers the next generation to take ownership of the cultural landscape. With this programme, we are not only listening to their voices but actively equipping them with the tools to become future cultural leaders.”
The Liepāja 2027 youth development programme aims to encourage young people’s active participation in shaping and delivering the Capital of Culture year. The current pilot project, which runs until August 2025, supports the development of youth-led events and cultural projects across Liepāja, South Kurzeme and Kuldīga. A new call for applications is expected in autumn.
Launched in October 2024, the pilot phase has already provided participants with valuable training and mentorship opportunities. In addition to regular expert-led workshops and one-on-one sessions with mentors, the group also travelled to Tartu, Estonia – European Capital of Culture 2024 – to gain inspiration and international perspective. Open to 16- to 25-year-olds, the programme selected its 30 most motivated participants through a competitive application process.
The initiative is implemented by Liepāja 2027 in close cooperation with the associations “Development Platform YOU+”, “Izgaismo ideju” from the South Kurzeme region, and “Sprādziens” – an active youth organisation based in Kuldīga.
Foundation “Liepāja 2027 Foundation”
Digital Communication Project Manager
Elizabete Hartmane
Phone: + 371 25 99 33 99
E-mail: elizabete.hartmane@liepaja2027.lv
On 10 May, the European Capital of Culture – Liepāja 2027 – gathered its newest addition to the ambassadors’ team for their very first meeting. Thirty-two energetic and inspiring individuals from Liepāja, Kuldīga and South Kurzeme came together, having earned their title through a highly competitive selection process.
On Friday 9 May, communities across Liepāja, Kuldīga and the South Kurzeme region joined in creativity and conversation, as Europe Day was celebrated with a rich and varied programme organised by “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027.”
Liepāja 2027 Foundation has published the results of a comprehensive study conducted on demand by the Latvian Academy of Culture, shedding light on cultural accessibility and development in Liepāja, South Kurzeme, and Kuldīga — collectively described as the Land of (un)rest.
