International Conference "Cultural Renovation"

What connects us to the place where we live? To the people beside us? To the landscape, nature and other forms of life? And how can art become a space where these relationships are born, change and grow stronger?

On November 4 this year, from 9:00 to 18:30, the international conference "Cultural Renovation", organized by Liepāja 2027, will take place for the third time at the concert hall "Lielais Dzintars" in Liepāja. This year’s conference focuses on socially engaged contemporary art practices and co-creation with various communities that inhabit and shape the city.

The third "Cultural Renovation" conference will address questions that are becoming increasingly important both in the cultural sector and in society as a whole - what is a community and how can different communities build new relationships through co-creation? How have creative practices involving communities changed over time, and what are the ethical, political, social and practical aspects related to them? How does an art event create new communities and networks of relationships, and is it not time to acknowledge that creation is not a profession or a privilege, but life itself?

Conference curator Gundega Laiviņa says that the forum’s program and direction were inspired by the philosophy of the Lakota, an Indigenous people of North America, based on the phrase "All My Relations", emphasizing the close connection and interaction between people, animals, plants, waters and other forms of life.

The morning session will focus on the concept of community and the city as a space where diverse communities coexist, inhabited and shaped not only by people but also by other-than-human beings. We will also look at the phenomenon of participatory art and the role of European Capitals of Culture in the development of this practice, the social and political potential of co-creation, and international examples in which artists, local communities and the landscape become equal participants in the creative process.

In the afternoon, we will examine specific participatory art projects from Latvia and other countries and offer practical workshops that will introduce methods of co-creation, the role of art in promoting the wellbeing of the individual and the community, principles of cooperation with children, and approaches that encourage new relationships with the landscape and other forms of life.

The conference will feature:

• •sociologist and diversity expert Agnese Cimdiņa,
• •architect and head of the Matera 2019 European Capital of Culture programme Ariane Bieou,
• •artist, researcher and practitioner of children’s participation Andy Field,
• •health and culture researcher, scientific assistant at the Institute of Culture and Arts of the Latvian Academy of Culture Inga Surgunte,
• •artists Krista Burāne and Laura Stašāne,
• •designers Rūta Jumīte and Tīna Alise Drupa

and others.

"Cultural Renovation" will be a valuable meeting place for cultural professionals, artists, educators, representatives of municipalities and non-governmental organizations, community leaders, students and anyone interested in the role of culture in social development and in building new models of cooperation.

The detailed conference programme will be announced in September this year.

Translation into Latvian and English will be provided during the conference.

The event is accessible to people with mobility impairments.

Tickets: 25.00 euros

NB. When purchasing tickets, please indicate your email address and phone number so that the organizer can contact participants before the conference and provide up-to-date or clarifying information about the event.

!!! If you wish to purchase tickets using the details of a legal entity, please contact Bilesu Paradize by writing to info@bilesuparadize.lv. In the email, please include the company details, the event name and the number of tickets required.

See you on November 4 at the "Lielais Dzintars" concert hall for the "Cultural Renovation" conference!

The "Cultural Renovation" conference is implemented within the framework of the "Liepāja - European Capital of Culture 2027" project programme, using funding allocated by the Liepāja city municipality, South Kurzeme Municipality, Kuldīga Municipality and the Ministry of Culture. The "Liepāja 2027" programme is supported by the main partner in environmental education and sustainability, AS "CleanR Grupa", the main partner in air mobility and international communication, AS "Air Baltic Corporation", the partner for legal matters, SIA "Sorainen ZAB", the land mobility partner, SIA "Lux Express Latvia", the water transport mobility and international communication partner, SIA "Stena Line". Media partners - VSIA "Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs", SIA "Žurnāls Santa", SIA "Tvnet grupa", AS "Kurzemes Radio".