In August 2027, as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, the international “Zenta Mauriņa Summer School” will take place in Southern Kurzeme, conceived as a space for dialogue and collaborative artistic activity. Representatives of various contemporary art disciplines will be invited to participate – visual artists, writers, performance artists, choreographers, new media professionals, and others from creative fields who wish to expand their practice by considering accessibility and inclusion, as well as to foster equal collaboration with people with disabilities.
The project is based on the belief that the presence of people with disabilities in the professional arts is not merely a matter of cultural accessibility. It is also an opportunity to expand the field of art itself by creating new perspectives, experiences, and creative practices. In Latvia, opportunities for people with disabilities to fully participate in professional art remain limited; which is why the “Zenta Mauriņa Summer School” aims to foster change by creating an environment where diverse experiences become an integral part of the creative process.
“A key source of inspiration for this project is the personality and creative legacy of Zenta Mauriņa. Mauriņa’s life story, literary work, and reflections on inner strength, relationships, friendship, freedom, and the ability to overcome limitations continue to prompt us today to ask how we view differences and how we create space for human self-expression. The summer school not only interprets this legacy but uses it as a starting point for a contemporary dialogue and a new artistic experience,” says Lība Bērziņa, organizer of the “Zenta Mauriņa Summer School” and representative of the association “Colorize”.
To ensure that the “Zenta Mauriņa Summer School” in 2027 is not a one-time event but rather a continuation of a longer-term process, its preparatory programme is already underway. As part of this programme, three artists are collaborating with people with disabilities, children, and young people, as well as representatives of local communities, during residencies in various locations throughout Southern Kurzeme.
- On Friday, September 25, from 11:00 to 12:30, a meeting with artist Anda Lāce and students from Mežupe Elementary School will take place at the Purmsāti Library (outdoors, weather permitting). During the residency, participants will collaboratively develop ideas inspired by Zenta Mauriņa’s creative legacy, with a special focus on the theme of friendship. Mežupe Elementary School is attended by children and young people with various disabilities, and the collaborative creative process will provide an opportunity to experiment with movement, imagination, and performance. During the session, participants will seek an answer to the question of how a house with wings might fly, collaboratively creating a small-scale performative event.
- An open workshop led by choreographer Kristīne Brīniņa and the Priekule Day Center is scheduled for Monday, October 12. During the residency, participants will work together to create a “movement ritual”, using the body, movement, and repetition as means of communication and collaboration.
- On Thursday, November 12, from 11:00 to 12:30, those interested will have the opportunity to visit artist Eva Vēvere’s residency in Rucava, at the “Sudrabi” group apartments. Here, too, the artistic process takes shape through a dialogue with people, their everyday experiences, and their individual stories.
Writer Laura Vinogradova will also participate in all of the artists’ workshops, capturing the artists’ experiences within their communities in written form. Laura Vinogradova writes prose and experiences the world. For several years now, she has been leading creative writing workshops for children and adults.
Space in the workshops is limited, and registration is required by calling or emailing Lība Bērziņa, a representative of the “Colorize” association, at mobile: +371 28 649 014.
In August 2027, the “Zenta Mauriņa Summer School” will bring together artists and cultural professionals in Latvia to share their experiences with people with disabilities and create inclusive contemporary art. The summer school will serve as a collaborative space that fosters long-term cooperation and helps inclusive practices become a natural part of Latvia’s cultural landscape.
In August 2027, the “Zenta Mauriņa Summer School” will bring together artists and cultural professionals in Latvia to share their experiences with people with disabilities and create inclusive contemporary art. The summer school will serve as a collaborative space that fosters long-term cooperation and helps inclusive practices become a natural part of Latvia’s cultural landscape.
“Zenta Mauriņa Summer School” is organized in collaboration with the Latvian Center for Contemporary Art and the Zenta Mauriņa Memorial Rooms in Grobiņa.
The project “Zenta Mauriņa Summer School” is implemented by the association “Colorize” and with financial support from the foundation “Nodibinājums Liepāja 2027.” The 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”, legal partner: Sorainen Law Office, Ltd., Jsc; and its land mobility partner, SIA “Lux Express Latvia”, Ltd. Media partners: VSIA “Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs”, Ltd. and AS “Kurzemes Radio”, Jsc.
Information by:
Lība Bērziņa
Representative of the association “Colorize”
Phone: +371 28 649 014
E-mail: berzina.liba@gmail.com
