II. Main Cultural products 7. Cultural Events

Section 7.11: Examples and Good Practice

Good practice from Latvia. Let’s view all possible groups of organizers.

1. The state and local municipalities. The events organized by the state and local municipalities are invaluable collaboration partners to entrepeneurs. When collaborating, well visited and intersting events may be created. Celebrations in cities and towns are a very common type of event in Latvia – as years pass, the offers become more and more interesting and diverse. Tourism entrepeneurs can cooperate with the local governments and municipalities by proposing them their ideas. For example, the event calendar of the area of Salacgrīva is very full - that can be used by the local tourism and hospitality companies. In the web-page of Salacgrīva www.salacgriva.lv information about the upcoming events is given. Unfortunately, the web-page is available only in Latvian language. The City Festival in August, The Sea Festival, Baltic Alpha-Romeo Owners' Reunion “AROMS”, Enduro Championship, Artists' Plainaire, International Northern Livonian Festival in Ainaži – these are just a few of all events in the region.

   The National History Museum organizes „Āraiši Celebration” every year – a celebration of the ancient Latvian culture in the Lake Castle of Āraiši. Here entrepeneurs can collaborate by providing accommodation spaces, thematic catering and attractions. www.travelnews.lv.

2. Individual bussinessmen. The workshop of the ceramist Valdis Pauliņš called “Pauliņi” sells their product (a demonstration of the process of pottery by involvement of visitors) together with a trip with a travel agency IMPRO. It is included in the trip called “Circles of Daugava together with Anna Rancāne”, www.impro.lv.

3. Limited Liability Companies. ”Jaunpils Castle Ltd” offers a visit to a medieval celebration with a vast cultural programme: www.jaunpilspils.lv (homepage in Latvian, Russian and English). The web-page is clear and interesting, inviting for visitors. The event takes place every year.

   Rehabilitation centre “Līgatne Ltd” offers an event – game “Object X” in a historic Soviet bunker that is located 9 km under the rehabilitation centre. Players are introduced to attributes, stories and food of Soviet times. www.bunkurs.lv – a web-page in Latvian, English and Russian.

   “Fono Ltd” organises music and active relaxation festival “Fonofest” in Extreme Sports Complex “Uplandi” in Cēsis Region. Web-page is available in Latvian and English. The festival was organized very professionally by brothers Sildniki, www.fonofest.com.

   Already for 12 years “Bordertown Ltd” is organising the Country Music Festival of Bauska managed by Mārtiņš Ruža. This ir one of the four American music festivals, held regularly in Europe, that attracts country music bands from around 200 countries, www.countrymusic.lv.

4. Non-governmental organizations. “Smiltene Alternative” is a commune of youth’s initiative organizing cultural events, including Open-air Music Festival “Tepat ir labi” (“Here is good”) that takes place in Recreation Centre “Kalbakas” in Smiltene, www.myspace.com/smiltenealternative.

Club of historical reconstruction „Rodenpoys” organizes a Mideval Day in the castle ruins of Livonian Order in Ropaži. This is a cultural event for a large public. Other clubs are participating as well – Livonians, Excertitus Rigen. www.ropazi.lv

Photographer society „Foto būda” is organising the summer plainair of photographers „Strobist” in Ainaži , www.fotobuda.lv/strobist.

Questions

References