As part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” program, the Liepāja Folk Art and Culture Centre has launched a new and sustainable creative education initiative — the Skills Exchange Platform “Skill Market”. The goal of the project is to promote the preservation, development, and mutual exchange of craft skills among masters from different generations, industries, and communities. Project activities will take place from October 2025 to May 2027.
The first phase of the project — the “Master in the Classroom” training — will run from October to mid-November. In a series of twelve lectures, 30 members of Liepāja’s applied arts studios will gain new knowledge on promoting their skills, creating digital content, and communicating in today’s environment.
The lectures are led by Ritvars Sproģis and Nils Kuncītis, instructors at the Liepāja Secondary School of Music, Art, and Design (LMMDV). Topics include photography, text creation (including the use of artificial intelligence tools), social media engagement, communication skills development, and hands-on practice to reinforce newly acquired knowledge.
In the first sessions, longtime LMMDV teacher and professional photographer Ritvars Sproģis discussed the basic principles of photography, sources of creative inspiration, and encouraged participants to engage in discussions about ethics and the key elements of successful photography. In the second class, participants took part in a practical photography session. In the following lessons, LMMDV communications specialist Nils Kuncītis will introduce digital tools and the use of social media.
“The first phase of the project is a crucial foundation for the entire Skills Exchange initiative — right now, the masters are not only honing their own skills but also preparing to share them in the upcoming stages of the project, which will involve the wider public,” emphasize the project organizers from the Liepāja Folk Art and Culture Centre.
In the coming years, the project will also offer public masterclasses under the title “Skills Laboratory”, a workshop series called “Master to Master”, and symposia held during the Līva Village Festival, helping to position Liepāja as a center for skills and creative collaboration in the Kurzeme region.
The Skills Exchange Platform “Skill Market” is being implemented as part of the “Liepāja 2027” program, with funding from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, the City of Liepāja, and the municipalities of South Kurzeme and Kuldīga.
Daina Vanaga
Project Manager of the Skills Exchange Platform “Skill Market”
Phone: +371 26 107 720
Email: daina.vanaga@liepaja.lv
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation is currently seeking several professionals to join its team as it advances the European Capital of Culture programme. The Foundation is announcing new job openings and inviting applications for the positions of Chief Accounting Officer, Producer, and Technical Director. Applications for all positions are open until 28 October 2025 at 23:59.
Where rest meets unrest, stories are born. In the spirit of this paradox, the Liepāja 2027 Foundation invites bold ideas for cultural tourism through its open competition “Land of (Un)rest, Tell Us Stories!” – a call to reimagine how visitors experience the region during Liepāja’s year as European Capital of Culture. Deadline for submissions: 23:59 on 1 December 2025.
