Zemgale to launch series of regional meetings on the future of religious heritage

The Zemgale Planning Region (ZPR) has announced that this autumn it will launch a series of regional meetings aimed at developing practical solutions for maintaining historic sacred buildings and integrating them meaningfully into contemporary community life. The meetings are being organized as part of the project "Involvement of Local Rural Communities in Preserving Religious Heritage."

Insights and recommendations gathered from the discussions are intended to be incorporated into ZPR's development planning documents, laying the groundwork for future action on religious heritage.

Who will take part

The discussions will bring together experts from state institutions, municipal specialists, parish representatives, and local residents. Together they will examine current obstacles to managing sacred heritage sites and explore ways to combine the preservation of cultural-historical value with socioeconomic benefit. A significant part of the meetings will focus on "mapping" local churches and identifying possible future scenarios for them — ranging from remaining an active spiritual center to becoming a cultural space, or even a preserved historical ruin.

Locations and dates

The first regional meeting will take place on September 24 in Dobele municipality. It will be followed by meetings on October 1 in Aizkraukle municipality and October 15 in Jēkabpils municipality. A meeting is planned for October 29 in Jelgava municipality, and the series will conclude on November 5 in Bauska municipality.

All sessions will be held in a working-group format. ZPR is inviting municipal specialists in development, culture, and tourism, as well as parish representatives and other interested parties who can offer practical input.

The project's total funding is 1,569,442 euros, including 1,255,553.60 euros co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.