Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content
European Commission logo
EACEA National Policies Platform
Latvia

Latvia

8. Creativity and Culture

8.1 General context

Last update: 28 November 2023
On this page
  1. Main trends in young people's creativity and cultural participation
  2. Main concepts

Main trends in young people's creativity and cultural participation

According to the research “Study on the Impact of Cultural Consumption and Participation” carried out in 2018, young people, aged 15 to 24, are significantly more active in cultural consumption than other social demographic groups. According to the study, in 2017, the majority of young people participated in such activities as visiting a parish, city, or county festival (85%), attending cultural events at a local cultural center (67%), attending popular music concerts (66%), visiting cultural and historical sites (62%), visiting museums (60%), libraries (59%) and amusement parks (59%).                

The data also show that there are activities in which young people participate more than others, and there are activities that are consumed less. Significantly more often than other social demographic groups, young people tend to visit libraries, watch movies in the cinema or open-air cinema screenings, attend local festivals and popular music concerts. But they are less likely to attend events for children or families with children, watch cultural programs on television, attend classical music concerts, or attend opera and ballet. Equally actively, compared to the general population, young people attend theatre performances and attend various festivals.      

According to the research, more than half (56%) of the surveyed young people, aged 15-24, would attend cultural events more often if there were more free events or if they had more funds available to attend the events (52%). Half of the surveyed also mentioned more free time as a factor for attending cultural events. Significant factors that would also motivate young people to attend cultural events, is a company with which to attend events, a wider choice of events, and “more events for people like me”. These data indirectly show that the current cultural supply does not always meet the wishes and demands of young people.

More information on the research can be found here

Main concepts

Folk art and intangible cultural heritage



Basic information of the sector by the Ministry of Culture and Latvian National Centre for Culture.

The tasks of the Ministry of Culture and Latvian National Centre for Culture in the sphere of folk art and intangible cultural heritage are:

 

  • to elaborate the policy and strategy in the area of Latvian intangible cultural heritage and folk art,
  • to elaborate in collaboration with a competent state administration and municipal and private structures a policy planning document and drafts for legislative instruments in the area of intangible cultural heritage and folk art and submit them to the Cabinet of Ministers,
  • to coordinate the implementation of commitments under the Convention on Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage,
  • to establish partnerships and collaborate with competent state, municipal and private non-governmental institutions on issues pertaining to the intangible cultural heritage policy and folk art,
  • to provide methodological and consultative assistance to municipalities and non-governmental institutions working in the field of intangible cultural heritage,
  • to ensure participation of the Ministry of Culture in  international networks ensuring collaboration in the area of intangible cultural heritage, to coordinate co-operation with competent state institutions of other countries, including the Baltic States, on issues pertaining to the implementation of the Convention on Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage,
  • to ensure the preparation and organisation of the Latvian Nationwide Song and Dance Festivals.