Riga - European Capital of Culture 2014 candidate

ock the boatThese days many young people knowhow to operate jet-skis, but wouldn’tthe making of a boat with one’s ownhands provide a greater satisfactionabout one’s skills? Anyone can tryand make a boat out of a single pieceof wood!Sigulda is known as an ancient Livoniansettlement of the Finno-Ugric tribes, andSigulda State Gymnasium teacher, artistRaits Tikums, still knows how to make typicalLivonian and other Finno-Ugrian logboats. Courageous visitors to the MuseumReserve can currently try them out in thepark’s pond.The making of a log boat requires an aspentree log approximately 5m in length. Itis hard work, and requires much patienceof the master. The tradition is known tohave been preserved also in Estonia andsome parts of Sweden.Research work is planned until 2014, inorder to find the masters of this craft, andassemble all of them together in 2014. Theboat opening or expansion is an occasionthat commands attention – stoking a boatlengthbonfire, heating of water in hugepots, heating of rocks and steaming of theboat, so that, with the help of spreaders, itcould be slowly expanded.stage of talentsDouzelage is an association of 23European small cities, of which Siguldais a member. In the context of 2014,Sigulda has initiated a project that is directedtoward the support of young talentsand would fit in the Riga`s “AmberVein” concept.The project will include an internationalyoung musicians competition “Musician ofthe Year“ in Sigulda, with the goal of promotingprofessional musical education forchildren and youth. Young musicians fromvarious EU member states will have the opportunityto demonstrate their skills in frontof an international jury and audience in thesonorous Sigulda Concert Hall.The project will be implemented in twophases:1) Creative workshop where 3 artistswill work, they will make the boat as anart object, utilizing historic boat makingtraditions;2) craftsmen from Estonia and Sweden willdemonstrate the authentic art of boat-making,with the participation of Sigulda youth,who will help in the making of a boat.What: Creative boatmasters workshop.Where: Turaida Museum Reserve.When: Phase 1 – 2012, Phase 2 – 2014.Concept author: Raits Tikums.Organisers: Raits Tikums, Sigulda DistrictBoard.Cooperation Partners: Turaida MuseumReserve, Eco-tourism Information andEducation Centre, Gauja National Park.What: International competition.Where: Concert Hall Baltais flīģelis,Sigulda Cultural Centre.When: Summer–Autumn.Concept author: www.douzelage.org.Organisers: Sigulda Music School, SiguldaDistrict Board Cultural Authority, SiguldaDistrict Board Development Authority.Cooperation Partners: The followingcities have confirmed their participation:Neideranven (Luxembourg), Sherborne(Great Britain); Susice (Czech Republic),Turi (Estonia). Response are still awaitedfrom: Holstebro (Denmark), Oxelosund(Sweden); Karkkila (Finland); Koszeg(Hungary).festival of marveloustheatre “soul sprouts“Light shows draw people in becausetheir effects are so unpredictable. Thegoal of this theatre of light is to givechildren and youth from socially disadvantagedfamilies the chance tolearn new skills, gain society’s recognition,and integrate more easily.The participants will be drawn into thecreation of the theatre of light. The director ofthe workshop will encourage the participantsto influence the rhythm and proceedings ofthe show. Participants will make set piecesand enliven them by learning appropriatemovements to musical accompaniment. Ashow within a show will then focus on thedifferent forms of decorations of varyingsizes.The theatre of light involves innovativemovement and music to stimulate creativityamong the participants. The show takeskremerata balticaSigulda has become famous for thechamber music festival, KremerataBaltica, where, in Siguldas concert hallBaltais Flīģelis, outstanding chambermusic concerts take place.Outstanding world-renowned Rigensian,musician and violinist Gidon Kremer, Balticorchestra Kremerata Baltica, orchestralchamber ensembles and guest soloistsparticipate in the festivals.With 2014, the festival’s mission anddirection is creative revelations – composers‘new opuses introduced and new musicstars – young outstanding soloists – arediscovered.place in darkness, where ultraviolet light isused with white set pieces to create specialeffects and a special atmosphere.Participants need no special preparationand the activity is therefore accessible todifferent age groups and handicappedpersons. The audience, as well as theparticipants, benefit from this cooperation.Another form of expression at the festivalwill be performances prepared at movementand dance workshops. Games willencourage children to create their owndances. The Sigulda group “Wings ofHope” has already proven itself capableof success – members of the troupe haveparticipated in international events inTurkey and Poland as well as Latvia. 60children participate in the association, 8 ofthem with partners in Germany.Participants will come from 10 differentcountries: Latvia, Lithuania, Germany,Poland, Belarus, Slovakia, Azerbaijan,Macedonia and 2 African countries. Thefestival will give children a chance to meetand to find new friends.The Festival history includes such contemporaryclassic composers as ArvoPärt, Giulio Cancelli, Leonid Desyatnikov,Alfreds Šnitke, Pēteris Vasks. The Festival isplanning a high quality programme for 2014as well.What: Chamber music festival .Where: Sigulda Concert Hall Baltais flīģelis,Sigulda Lutheran Church, Sigulda CatholicChurch.When: End of June.Concept author: Gidon Kremer.organisers: Sigulda Concert Hall Baltaisflīģelis, Kremerata Baltica,www.kremeratabaltica.lv,www.sigulda.lv.Cooperation Partners: Businesses,embassies.What: Theatre festival.Where: Sigulda.When: Autumn.Concept authors: Ingrīda Žigure, Eva Viļkina.Organisers: “Wings of Hope”www.ceribusparni.lv.Partners: Social Agency of the SiguldaRegion Council, Culture Board, Viļāniassociation Saulstariņš, Olaine associationĀbolītis, Sustento, Lebenshilfe (Germany).146 147