“By inviting and teaching us to feel and think, culture encourages us to understand our own actions and those of others, as well as to recognise the vital importance of cooperation, which helps us navigate the unpredictability and uncertainty of today’s reality.
However, knowledge alone is not enough. One must also have the ability and the willingness to stand up for justice, responsibility, equality, and other values that form the foundation of democracy and ensure its functioning – at the playground, in the classroom, within the community, across the nation, and in international relations,” expresses Aija Tūna, Head of the Culture and Arts Education Programme “Latvian School Bag”.
Latvia can rightly take pride in the “Latvian School Bag” programme, which ensures that students have regular opportunities to experience professional art and cultural events. This experience has fostered an understanding that cultural events are far more than mere entertainment, nor are they simply something tedious and mandatory to attend.
We are delighted to implement the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) project “Cultural Events as an Instrument for Promoting Civic Participation”, which focuses on participation as one of the fundamental prerequisites for a democratic society. An inability to participate not only leads to social exclusion and a lacking sense of belonging and recognition but also points to a deficit of tolerance from other members of society.
What is the goal of the project?
The goal is to develop students’ cultural awareness and expression competence and, using cultural events as a resource, to encourage active civic participation and strengthen civil society.
Why does the project focus on cultural events?
Cultural events are widely accessible to students in Latvia thanks to the culture and arts education programme “Latvian School Bag”. The programme has demonstrated that culture makes learning and everyday school life more meaningful and accessible for both students and teachers. Cultural experiences help students better master the educational content, spark interest and motivation, and positively influence their emotional well-being.
Cultural experiences have proven to be an effective starting point for conversation, decision-making, and action. However, this potential is not yet utilized in a sufficiently targeted and systematic way to help students explore, understand, and participate in broader societal processes. That is precisely why the project is built on the conviction that professional arts and cultural events must be integrated comprehensively into education – including to strengthen civic participation and democratic thinking.
In this project:
- Teachers and creators of cultural events will receive targeted support, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration;
- Evaluation and piloting of cultural events with the highest potential for inspiring civic participation will be promoted;
- Methodological materials will be developed;
- Teachers will complete a professional development programme and will get involved into series of activities to foster civic participation;
- Cooperation between education and culture professionals and those sectors will be strengthened;
- Examples of good practice will be collected and shared – both nationally and internationally.
Project Implementation
From 2026 to 2029, project participants (a total of 40 school teams) will:
- Identify local issues within their communities that require more active civic participation;
- Select and experience relevant cultural events from the “Latvian School Bag” programme offering;
- Explore solutions to address these issues;
- Inspired by the cultural events experienced as part of the project, organise tailored activities within their schools or local communities in collaboration with NGO representatives and cultural professionals – not only seeking ways to address the identified issues, but also mitigating the risks of similar challenges arising in the future.
Throughout the implementation of the project, Teachers will be provided with opportunities to:
- Enhance their professional development;
- Receive targeted, high-quality support;
- Develop their ability to integrate cultural events into the educational process in a meaningful and systematic way.
Consequently, in their daily work, Teachers will strengthen students’ skills to provide feedback on what they have seen and experienced, engage in debates, and act with civic responsibility.
What will be the results, and what will remain after the project?
After four years of collaborative work, the experience and insights gained will be documented and included in methodological materials. These will serve as a practical resource for any teacher, cultural professional, or NGO representative in Latvia who wishes to use professional arts and cultural events as a tool to promote civic participation.
In total, the project is expected to involve at least 200 staff members and Teachers from general education and vocational institutions, as well as at least 5,000 students from across Latvia.
Working Groups
To involve a broader spectrum of professionals and public representatives in the planning and execution of the project, two working groups have been established:
- Intersectoral Expert Working Group: Culture and education experts alongside NGO representatives who provide recommendations to the project management team on project delivery, oversee the successful piloting of professional arts and cultural events, and offer a strategic vision for sustainable links between the sectors involved.
- Cultural Event Selection and Evaluation Working Group: Culture and education experts who evaluate and select professional arts and cultural events for children and young people included in the “Latvian School Bag” programme, identifying those with strong potential to promote civic participation.
Project 4.2.3.3/1/25/I/002 “Cultural Events as an Instrument for Promoting Civic Participation” is co-financed by the European Union and runs from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2029.
The total eligible cost of the project is €1,918,966, of which €1,631,121 is European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) funding and €287,845 is national budget co-financing.
