Līvāni Municipality and Lithuania Engage Youth in Traditional Culture Through CultureLINK Project

Līvāni Municipality in Latvia, together with the Culture Centre of the Lithuanian town of Tituvėnai, is continuing to carry out the cross-border cooperation project “CultureLINK”. Its aim is to raise young people's interest in traditional culture and find modern ways to involve them in preserving cultural heritage. The project is supported by the Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania cross-border cooperation programme for 2021–2027 and has been under way since July 2025.

Workshops and camps

On 18 and 19 May 2026, two creative workshops were held in Līvāni, attended by representatives of about 20 folk art and folklore groups. They looked for new ways to reach young people and developed practical tools. On 11 and 12 June, Līvāni hosted partners from Lithuania; in expert-led discussions, participants collected ideas and prepared a draft set of youth engagement methodology and practical tools.

From 16 to 20 June, two five-day summer camps took place simultaneously in Tituvėnai, with 10 young people from Latvia among the participants. From 17 to 21 August, another camp was held in Jēkabpils Municipality in Latvia. Participants got to know their neighbouring country's traditions and tried out the methods developed in the project.

Costumes, concerts and digital tools

The municipality has carried out a public procurement for folk costumes for three groups: the Līvāni Children and Youth Centre dance group “Straume”, the folklore group “Ceiruleits”, and the Rožupe Primary School folklore group “Rūžupeite”. The project's cultural events have already included Līvāni's centenary celebrations, and several concerts are planned in Latvia and Lithuania.

The project has also produced a digital education programme with an interactive learning platform and short videos about folk dances and songs. Under the “No paaudzes paaudzē” (“From Generation to Generation”) initiative, 10 video stories, each up to three minutes long, are planned about Līvāni's traditions. Some footage has already been filmed, and the stories are currently being prepared.

Funding

The project's total budget is EUR 272,009.37, of which 80%, or EUR 217,607.49, is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. Līvāni Municipality's own project budget is EUR 138,118.12, of which the fund's co-financing is EUR 110,494.49.