The “radi!” movement in Latvia invites you to be creative and highlights cultural and creative crossovers

This year, the “radi!” Creativity Week provides a common platform for policy events concerning the cultural and creative industries during the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It also promotes the values of the Latvian Presidency – involvement, growth and sustainability.

Numerous studies at both national and EU level have confirmed that cultural and creative industries form a growing and resilient sector of the economy generating increasing numbers of jobs and contributing to overall development in Europe. Bearing in mind the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is raising awareness about the positive impact of culture on other sectors in terms of innovation, economic sustainability and social inclusion. 

This is the fifth year that the “radi!” Creativity Week has been held in Latvia to promote public awareness and interest in the creative and cultural industries, creativity-oriented education, innovation, the knowledge economy and creative management.

“One of the objectives of “radi!” is to motivate people to rediscover the creativity we were born with because a newborn child sees the world in the most creative way. The “radi!” social movement is an invitation to think outside the box and discover new territories, seek new forms of collaboration and find new solutions,” stresses Ms Dace Melbārde, the Minister for Culture of the Republic of Latvia, who invites everyone to take part in “radi!2015” activities. 

Ms Dace Melbārde, the Minister for Culture of Latvia. Photo: Ministry of Culture

“The creative and cultural industries, education, innovation, the knowledge economy and creative management – these are the buzzwords of the “radi!2015” social movement which aims to explore, demonstrate and raise awareness of the creative opportunities that exist in Latvia. This year we will underline the importance of creative and cultural crossovers in other sectors,” says Ms Lilita Sparāne, the project manager for “radi!2015”.

“The Ministry of Education and Science will place the spotlight on the theme of digital competences. We are therefore organising a forum to encourage teachers, young people and students to look at education more pragmatically and engage in digital competence learning,” says Ms Evija Papule, the Acting State Secretary at the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science. The Ministry of Education and Science is a long-term partner of the “radi!” movement. 

High-level experts from the creative industries and in the field of design thinking from Latvia and abroad will take part in a variety of “radi!2015” week initiatives:  there will be opportunities to get acquainted with the best examples of local cooperation, to hear the vision of foreign experts, and to engage in creative discussions.

Most of the best practice examples will be demonstrated on 11-12 March during the international conference “Culture and Creative Crossovers” which will bring together more than 250 cultural and creative industry representatives, experts and cultural policy-makers from across the European Union.

One of the examples in the conference programme is the “RaPaPro” creative partnerships programme. This has been launched and financially supported by the Ministry of Culture of Latvia with the aim of forming new partnerships in secondary vocational schools of cultural education, and involves teachers and students of art, design and music, municipalities, entrepreneurs, social groups and other local community representatives. 13 “RaPaPro” projects have led to the acquisition of new skills and knowledge and have provided the chance to work in interdisciplinary teams and promote the use of design thinking in cultural education. 

It will be also possible to watch video clips relating experience of this and other creative partnerships online on the Latvian Presidency website EU2015.LV.

On 12 March, Ms Dace Melbārde, the Minister for Culture of Latvia, Ms Maggy Nagel, the Minister for Culture of Luxembourg, representatives of the European Commission and other high-level policy-makers will discuss support for cultural and creative crossovers from local, national and European perspectives. Mr Tibor Navracsics, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport will deliver the closing speech to the conference.

Special souvenirs inspired by Latvian nature, cultural heritage and design. Photo: Ministry of Culture.

Inspired by Latvian nature, cultural heritage and design, the Ministry of Culture has produced special souvenirs for the guests of its international conferences. Postcards with 3D elements have been made using materials from Latvian nature and drawing inspiration from the country's cultural heritage. They also remind us that young people have great potential in terms of implementing innovative ideas. 

The postcards and the wooden brooch were designed by the Latvian graphic designer Zane Ernštreite who has used elements of ancient Latvian motifs in her design – Austra’s tree and the symbol of the Sun. The wooden brooches are produced by students of the Liepāja High School of Design and Art using the wood of the rowan tree which grows in Latvia and was believed by ancient Latvians to offer protection from evil. The product “Sweet Amber”, which has been created and internationally patented by artist Karīna Šišlo, is attached to the postcard depicting the Baltic Sea coast where amber was once picked up to be used in traditional Latvian jewellery. The handmade candy looks like real amber and is produced using only natural ingredients. The basis of each souvenir is a postcard – remove the 3D element and send it by post to friends as greetings from the Latvian Presidency.

The “radi!” movement was initiated by the Ministry of Culture of Latvia and the British Council. More information about “radi!” can be found on the website www.radilatvija.lv and the Draugiem.lv, Twitter.com, Facebook.com social networks.

Detailed programme of „radi!2015” events and activities.

radi!2015 — key events:

• 9–10 March.  International conference “Strengthening the European Audiovisual Media Market for the Development of the European Identity”; this international conference will raise a discussion on how to strengthen the European audiovisual media market so that it can respond to the challenges of rapid advances in technology, increasing global competition, changing consumer habits and the perceived threat to media pluralism in the context of the current geopolitical situation. More than 200 media experts, regulators and policy-makers from all EU Member States will take part in the conference. The conference is organised by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and the National Electronic Mass Media Council of Latvia, supported and co-funded by the European Commission. There will be live online streaming of the conference at EU2015.LV.
• 9 March. "Capacity building by night": an informal event for creative industry representatives  and newly established and future entrepreneurs. There will be a chance to meet Rasmus Wiinstedt Tscherning from Denmark, the founder of the "Creative Business Cup", to learn more about a special competition and to take part in a “Speed dating” session allowing participants to meet new people, discuss projects and skills, share their experience in an informal atmosphere and get inspired. The event is organised by “TechHub Riga” and the Danish Cultural Institute. More information in"Capacity building by night": an informal event for creative industry representatives  and newly established and future entrepreneurs. There will be a chance to meet Rasmus Wiinstedt Tscherning from Denmark, the founder of the "Creative Business Cup", to learn more about a special competition and to take part in a “Speed dating” session allowing participants to meet new people, discuss projects and skills, share their experience in an informal atmosphere and get inspired. The event is organised by “TechHub Riga” and the Danish Cultural Institute. More information in the „radi!2015” events programme.
• 11–12 March. The  “Cultural and Creative Crossovers” international conference will highlight practical examples of creative crossovers and partnerships from all over Europe, demonstrating the impact of culture and the creative industries and their added value to other sectors, including the economy, social innovation and education, and sustainable urban and regional development. The conference is organised by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, supported and co-funded by the European Union's Creative Europe programme. There will be live online streaming of the conference at EU2015.LV.
• 12–13 March. “Heritage, Contemporary Architecture and Design in Interaction” this international conference will promote a discussion on the interaction between cultural heritage and contemporary architecture and design, whilst preserving historical evidence and fostering the development of high quality living space. The conference is organised by the State Inspection for Heritage Protection and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, supported and co-funded by the European Union's Creative Europe programme. There will be live online streaming of the conference  at heritageriga2015.lv.
• 13 March. The School in the digital age international education forum seeks answers to questions about how a 21st century school should look and how technologies should be used in the teaching process in a meaningful way. The forum is organised by the British Council in Latvia in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Science, the UNESCO National Commission and the RIIMC (Riga Centre for Education and Informational Methods).
• Throughout the “radi!2015” week you can also visit three exhibitions on Latvian contemporary design that form part of the DESIGN MANIFESTATION cycle:“Reputation” at the National Library of Latvia, “Humanisation” at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design and “Information” at the Art Academy of Latvia. The exhibition cycle is a wide and inspiring manifestation of the diversity and accessibility of design created in Latvia. The project is carried out by design office H2E with financial support from the Latvian Ministry of Culture.