On 9 May, Liepāja 2027 will mark Europe Day with a programme of activities across Liepāja, South Kurzeme and Kuldīga, designed to strengthen civic awareness and foster a shared sense of belonging to the European community. From 12:00 to 16:00, a public programme will unfold in Liepāja, centred in the square beside the Great Amber Concert Hall (Jūras iela 11). From 12:00, artists from the “E75 Art Bus” project will animate cultural venues throughout the city, while the main event site will host a series of interactive and educational activities.<\/p>
Youth-led initiatives will invite participants into open conversations on European values, complemented by expert-hosted workshops offering practical insights into democracy, media literacy and cybersecurity. Visitors will also have the opportunity to take part in a cyberattack simulation hosted by the European Digital Innovation Centre (EDIC), running in two sessions from 12:20 to 13:50 and from 14:20 to 15:50.<\/p>
A public discussion on art, democracy, European values and civic engagement will take place from 12:30 to 14:00, creating space for reflection and dialogue. At 14:20, residents from Liepāja, South Kurzeme and Kuldīga will be invited to test their knowledge in the live-broadcast trivia game “Faktu Formula”.<\/p>
This year’s programme has been shaped with active community involvement. Residents were encouraged to contribute through the microgrant competition “The European Dream in Our Neighbourhood!”, resulting in six project submissions, four of which received funding totalling €3,994. The selected initiatives represent three Liepāja neighbourhoods – Jaunliepāja, Vecliepāja and the Northern Suburbs. In addition, artist Agnese Rudzīte will lead creative workshops inviting attendees to explore the distinct vibe of each neighbourhood through artistic expression.<\/p>
In Jaunliepāja, the “From Farm to Table” activities will encourage residents to explore the journey of food products and the importance of local production through interactive learning. Combining educational games and creative workshops, the initiative highlights sustainable food practices while drawing on the neighbourhood’s historic links to trade and craftsmanship, fostering dialogue on environmentally responsible consumption.<\/p>
Vecliepāja’s programme, “A Reflection of European Values in the Window of Vecliepāja”, will bring together heritage and contemporary perspectives. Inspired by the legacy of artist Miķelis Golts and the area’s identity, guests will be invited to take part in inclusive sand drawing and textile printing workshops, alongside an audiovisual storytelling experience. The complementary initiative “Create Your Own Community” will offer a dialogue circle and shared activities with tandem bicycles, triggering chats and brainstorming around sustainable mobility and neighbourhood belonging.<\/p>
In the Northern Suburbs, the “Dream Boxes” project will present an intimate exploration of place and identity through youth poetry and lambe-lambe micro-theatre. Three tailor-made miniature theatre boxes will offer audiences a glimpse into personal, poetic worlds shaped by local students’ reflections on belonging and aspiration. Visitors will also be invited to contribute their own wishes and visions for Europe’s future, becoming co-authors of a collective “dream poetry tree”.<\/p>
Each year, Europe Day celebrations within the Liepāja 2027 programme will highlight the city’s dual role as a European Capital of Culture and a platform for European Union values in action. The initiative aims to establish a lasting tradition, strengthening civic awareness and sustaining an open dialogue about our shared European future.<\/p>
The “Europe Day” project is implemented by the foundation “Liepāja 2027 Foundation”. The total project funding amounts to €28,306.44, including co-financing from the City of Liepāja (€16,000), South Kurzeme Municipality (€287.44), Kuldīga Municipality (€500), the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia (€11,519), and the German Embassy in Latvia’s “Fact, Fiction and Democracy” project (€5,450). The Liepāja 2027 programme is supported by its main partner in environmental education and sustainability, AS “CleanR Grupa” JSC; its main partner in mobility and international communication, AS “airBaltic Corporation” JSC; and its mobility partner, transport operator SIA “Lux Express Latvia” Ltd.<\/p>
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