Rundāle exhibition traces history of Latvian primers since the 18th century

On September 5, the Rundāle multifunctional centre opened an exhibition titled "The Primer as a Mirror of Society," prepared with the involvement of Riga School Museum specialist Ilze Jākobsone. The opening began with an unusual scene staged by the local amateur theatre "Stella," whose members symbolically invoked the spirit of 18th-century clergyman and educator Gotthard Friedrich Stender, whose works — including the 1787 "Picture Primer" — laid the foundation for Latvian children's educational literature.

International collaboration

The exhibition was created together with education history museums from five countries: Italy, Germany, Estonia, Slovenia and Ukraine. It displays the diversity of European primers across different historical periods and political systems, as well as the evolution of illustration and printing techniques. Particular emphasis is placed on primers published in Latvia, which since the second half of the 18th century have offered insight into the values and family, school and social relationships of their time. Illustrations by local artists appeared in textbooks only in the early 20th century, when primers were even compiled separately for urban and rural children.

A talk on school singing lessons

At the opening, Bauska Museum director Aigars Urtāns gave a talk on music education in Latvian folk schools around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when singing was the only mandatory exam required to graduate, illustrating his talk with accordion music.

The exhibition marks the 500th anniversary of Latvian book printing and the 85th anniversary of the Riga Students' Palace. Alongside books, it also displays school uniforms, satchels and other educational items. It can be visited until October 22 during municipal working hours, by prior arrangement with Lilita Lauskiniece.