Six new projects have been approved in the last call for proposals, to strenghten Estonian-Latvian ties in classical and traditional music, art education, organizing of craft markets, as well as finding joint solutions for such practical issue as drainage system improvement.
Brief summaries of the supported projects:
The project House of Sounds will renew skills of creating and playing old traditional instruments (diatonic accordion “Ieviņa” and many-stringed instrument kokle / kannel) during trainings for interested musician groups in Krape (LV) and Põlva (EE). Trainings will be accompanied by folk music festival with concerts, special workshops and exhibits. Traditional playing methodology will also be distributed via broadcasts and made available online.
Classical music channels of the Estonian and Latvian national radios will carry out a cooperation project Radio Classics. Through series of special broadcasts and reportages, people will expand their knowledge about classical music life in various regions of the neighboring country. Young artists from local music schools will be particularly spotlighted via specially organized concert recordings.
The project Art School "Walk" will allow Estonian youth from Valga (EE) to study in the Valka Art School (LV) in future. As there is no separate art school in the twinning town Valga, the Valka Art School will be developed as a joint arts education centre, offering educational programs also in Estonian language.
Closely located communities of Ape (LV) and Mõniste (EE) will cooperate in the project Idea on the border to maintain handicraft skills and promote joint craft markets on the Estonian-Latvian border, which were common in old times. While carrying out these initiatives, the local Estonians and Latvians will actively network and learn each other’s language.
Youth from Põlva (EE) and Ogre (LV) will come together within the project Young Active Creative, where they will jointly learn cultural management skills for visual and performing arts events. Meanwhile the young Estonians and Latvians will actively network and engage in real organizing of two youth festivals.
The project (D)rain for Life will explore the best ways to develop sustainable urban drainage systems in Estonia and Latvia. Joint feasibility studies in Baldone (LV), Tartu (EE), Rīga (LV) and Pärnu (EE) will look for the most efficient ways to drain surface waters back into the environment in ecological ways without expensive piping works. The local community groups will be actively involved in discussions and educated about these issues.
Altogether 622 891 EUR funding has been allocated for these new projects. Financing decisions were made during the Programme’s Monitoring Committee meeting on 13-14 December in Sigulda (Latvia).
This was Programme's last call for proposals. In case of sufficient funding left over by some of the running priority 3 projects, some other of the recently submitted projects might get approved, which have currently been put in a reserve list.
