CREATIVE Kurzeme CREATIVE Kurzeme

LATVIA THE CENTERS OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES is a small country in Northern International practice shows - Europe, with little more than 2 million creative industries are evolving and inhabitants. In our short period of developing in urban environments. independence we have proven to be , the capital and its suburbs a strong and creative nation. contribute almost 80% to Latvia’s Although it’s a relatively new sector creative economy. The biggest of the economy, at the state level number of creative companies are innovations and creative industries registered and operate in this are perceived as the basis for the territory. future economic growth. Creativity that comes from culture and arts The number of creative and support sector enterprises in Regions and Rīga (2011). CSP data. combined with business knowledge is a key resource for the economic growth by creating products with high added value.

Still the Kurzeme Region has a good basis for growth for creative industries with 5 KURZEME regional towns that have an average of high creative potential. Currently, creative industries play a role in shaping the economic structure in the three biggest towns Its long sea border with large and small harbors, sandy beaches, coastal fishing - Liepāja, and Kuldīga. In each of these more than 20 villages and towns historically determines the uniqueness of the Kurzeme Region. creative enterprises are registered. In the Saldus and Talsu municipalities The two port towns - Liepāja and Ventspils are regional and national development respectively 15 to 17 entrepreneurs are registered and operate. In the remaining centers. Major production companies are concentrated around these . Rich 15 counties of Kurzeme only up to 5 creative companies per county is declared. The cultural heritage, castles and manor houses, old coastal fishing villages and long major industries in the region are textile manufacturing, furniture manufacturing cultural traditions differentiate the Kurzeme Region from other regions in Latvia. and the supporting industry – paper production. The strong, harsh and unique character of the inhabitants of the Region is also displayed in unique and original culture and business. This booklet will provide a first glimpse into the creative life of the Kurzeme Region. CREATIVE Kurzeme

LIEPAJA KULDIGA

The main creative industry in Liepāja It must also be mentioned that This is famous for its ancient aura. Currently Kuldīga and its Restoration is fashion- in particular lingerie Liepāja is known as the music capital The town has managed to maintain Center has become a real treasure production, where currently for of Latvia. A historically developed centuries old wooden houses and chest for knowledge seekers of wood a long time SIA "Lauma Fabrics" - community of musicians laid the create a unique atmosphere. Not restoration and other specific a world known brand - is playing foundations for the development of surprisingly, ten out of the twenty- construction works. a leading role and shaping the trends. the music industry. Nowadays the three creative companies registered city attracts record labels, musicians, in the Kuldīga provide sound companies, entertainment architectural services. organizers and different thematic festivals.

VENTSPILS

This port and transit city with great economic potential and high ambitions also proves itself in the creative field. Ventspils is one of the most technologically advanced cities, not just in the Region but also in the entire Baltic Region. The driving force and base for creative activities in the city is Ventspils High Technology Park Currently 17 creative companies In the future, if the local government (VHTP), around which a strong IT operate in the and business sectors pay more industry community has been – consisting of publishers of attention to and invest more in the established. periodicals, internet service wooden furniture design field, more providers, architects and others. valuable products, instead of the However, the greatest creative export of raw materials , could be potential of this municipality is rooted brought into the local economy. in nature. The area around Talsi is rich with forest resources that have enabled the development of the timber industry and timber exports. CREATIVE Kurzeme

CREATIVE INITIATIVES CREATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES IN LIEPAJA In 2007 in the University of Liepaja, a The activities of the University are new educational programme “New also reflected in the creative Media Arts“was launched. Degrees environment of Liepaja. can be attained at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels. The master’s The Art Research Laboratory of the programme has two directions - University of Liepaja organizes “Digital Media and Network Art“and regular meetings of representatives “Sound Art and Electronic Music”. In of various arts – an area of open ideas 2013, studies in arts doctoral serving as a communication and co- programme will begin as well. operation platform. This platform is designed for new artists to share The programme offers new teaching their experience and search for co- method based on practice. The operation partners in terms of new meeting and lecturing facilities for media culture. In order to promote students and faculty is a cellar where and implement the ideas presented studies run 24/7. Well-facilitated at the area of open ideas, the best work premises are available for ideas are granted small financial students, including an analogue support for their implementation. photography laboratory and studio, a An excellent example of promoting media laboratory for working with international co-operation is the 2D, 3D, video and digital photography, project implemented by the Apart from the University of Liepaja, it is a sound studio, an experimental University „i-week“ that is an arts also possible to master creative room, a media library of books, week of new media, during which professions at the Liepaja Secondary Art magazines, magazine catalogues, both students and other interested School, where pupils are trained in sound and video records. persons are invited to take over the various design programmes – design of role of spectator and participate in clothing, interior, metal ware, textile and the various creative workshops, multimedia. lectures, performances, exhibitions The school completes the first semester and installations offered. It is also of each school year with a clothing possible to follow these activities on- fashion display of emerging new line. designers supplemented by videos created by pupils of the multimedia department. Sometimes there is also co- operation with other schools, for instance, with Liepaja Emilis Melngailis Music School, where new musicians supplement the fashion display with a performance of compositions. www.liepu.lv www.lmv.lv www.mplab.lv CREATIVE Kurzeme

FESTIVAL ROYAL The Film and Arts Festival ROJAL has An essential part of the ROJAL festival been taking place in the small town of is the student film competition held Roja in Kurzeme since 2011. During over two evenings – films are shown the festival, there are exhibitions, art to the jury which immediately objects, and installations, as well as evaluates the films. In 2012, campaigns and happenings held in members of the jury consisted of the several impromptu open-air cinemas. artist of the Werner Hercog’s films At the three day festival, Latvian Ulrich Bergfelder, film director Juris documentary, action and animated Pakalniņš and operator Uldis Jancis. films, as well as foreign films are Public evaluation of the films, in the shown at the beach during free of presence of the author, adds charge open-air night sessions. excitement, and provides dynamic elements to the event. The festival also contributes to the concept of the nine year long art project "Rojaraku". Artists of various fields from different countries come to Roja, and for more than a fortnight they work on the spot and create their works for Roja.

www.facebook.com/fROJAL www.rojaraku.lv CREATIVE Kurzeme

PHOTO KULDIGA Already the seventh year the During the Photography Summer International Photography Summer School, master classes are offered to School (ISSP) is held, and it is photography students from all over evaluated by professionals as the the world. They participate in lectures best one in Europe. Every August g i v e n b y h i g h l y v a l u a t e d about one hundred professionals and international photographers. All interested parties from all over the week long students work on creating world come together. By the second a new photography series, by year the school was permanently experimenting and defying the formed and now takes place in environment and opinions about Kuldiga every year. themselves thru photography. The Summer School is an event not only for photography professionals, but also for anyone with an interest in photography. They are invited to attend a free of charge evenings of public lectures, presentations and creative meetings.

Kuldiga was not chosen as a venue In the workshop, one can master for such an amazing event by chance basic photography, work in the studio – both the beautiful architecture of and in the analogue laboratory, and the town and local activities participate in open air exhibitions. contributed to it being the chosen The aim of this program is to provide venue for this event. The Kuldiga insight to the participants on the County Council, Kurzeme Tourism process of creating photos and give Association and with the support of everyone a chance to fall in love with the European Union, established the the art of photography. Kuldiga Creative Photography Workshop.

www.issp.lv/en/news http://fotokuldiga.wordpress.com CREATIVE Kurzeme

MUSIC, ARTS AND THE LOCAL HARVEST FESTIVAL “ZEMLIKA“ IN DURBE Zemlika is the time when the autumn The music is preformed in a wide harvest is over. The spirits of the dead spectre of genres – from guitar music have been honoured the new harvest to contemporary music, folk music to collected and the people can enjoy electronic dance music. this festival by celebrating the things A special role in the festival is granted they’ve accomplished during the to the market of local products year and gaining inspiration for new produced by farmers, and craftsmen work ahead. In this way the with honest and environmentally organizers of the festival can honour friendly manufacturing, thus traditions that have been forgotten in showcasing products grown on the other communities, while trying to farm and goods made in the add a modern touch to the festival. workshops and factories of Durbe and At the festival, music is the main the surrounding communities during attraction. During the two day the year. festival concerts given by foreign and Apart from the concerts, the festival local musicians are held at the organizers hold art and national craft Lutheran Church of Durbe, the workshops, a specialty film program, Cultural Centre and other locations theatre performances and other throughout Durbe. interesting activities.

www.zemlika.lv CREATIVE Kurzeme

HIGH TECHNOLOGIES IN VENTSPILS THE ONLY INDEPENDENT THEATRE OUTSIDE RIGA

In Ventspils High Technology Park One of the most essential operations Independent and experimental theatres are starting to play a more significant role (VHTP), electronic systems are of the VHTP is supporting, consulting in Latvian theatre life – although not long ago, they all were based in Riga. In p r o d u c e d , a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r and promoting new businessmen Liepaja in addition to the professional theatre, the actor Kaspars Gods has created smartphones are elaborated, the ideas in the marketplace. In the an alternative playground – the Gods Theatre. prototyping laboratory of the Business Incubator, about 50 new Ventspils University College, as well enterprises are assisted at the same Gods Theatre acts as both a project theatre for new staging and a place for other as the only clean-room of the time regarding various business independent theatre’s travelling performance troupes. The independent theatres Kurzeme Region and a software related issues. At the early stage of a of Liepaja claim that children and young people are their main audience, whom, testing laboratory are based. A range business idea, when the company according to the opinion of the inhabitants of Liepaja, other theatres pay too little of companies related to technologies has not yet been established, the attention to. are working in the Technology Park. creators of new ideas can utilize the services of the Ideas’ Workshop. This is a specially created environment that provides an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to develop their products in a facilitated office premises, together with an excellent support team providing consultations related to startup entrepreneurship.

Interactive science centres are gaining extreme popularity all over the world becoming both TOP tourism destinations in their home countries and serving as exciting educational and career promoting centres. VHTP is also creating the Kurzeme Democentre, which will become a significant science and education project for the region in the future.

www.vatp.lv www.godateatris.lv CREATIVE Kurzeme

CREATIVE ENTERPRISES WOOLY WORLD TEDDY BEARS PROMOTION OF LOCAL PRODUCTION Wooly World is an outstanding example of social business. The company’s philosophy is based on creating respect for each other and social equality. The N o t l o n g a g o t h e w e b s i t e employees of the company are members of the Liepaja Association for the Blind. www.razotskurzeme.lv was They make teddy bears from natural sheep’s wool. launched. It contains information The little bears are produced in Liepāja and are sold in Latvia and abroad - about about large and small active one third of the production is sold in Japan, with the remainder sold in Germany producers and service providers in and Latvia. the Kurzeme Region and its neighboring counties.

Entrepreneurs are encouraged to take the opportunity to promote their products and services thru this joint website. This offer is especially attractive to small businesses that do not have their own home page. When the company registers with this site it acquires a catchy internet address and is promoted with other local entrepreneurs.

Another great pilot project that was initiated in the year 2011 is ELEMENTI. This is an industrial design competition and exhibition, whose aim is to showcase the best industrial design products created in the Kurzeme Region, as well as to inform a larger audience about the type of design Latvia can be proud of.

www.razotskurzeme.lv www.kurzemesdizains.lv www.woolyworld.lv www.facebook.com/WoolyWorld CREATIVE Kurzeme

ANNAHOUSE CREATIVE TOYS Adults who built houses from chairs ANNAHOUSE produces flexible and blankets during their childhood cardboard toys - dollhouses, pirate would probably want to be children ships, planes and other toys. They again to try out the ANNAHOUSE create a very simple toy that inspires products. They manufacture folding the imagination and develops cardboard houses for kids. creativity during playtime with parents and friends. ANNAHOUSE toy’s are not finished, or painted. This toy provides children with a canvass t o e x p re s s t h e i r e m o t i o n s , imagination and virtually every game, idea or artistic whim thru art. The concept that the child is the one developing and creating their own play world can be empowering and is important to a child’s development.

Lithuania, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand have already shown interest about these eco-friendly cardboard houses. In year 2012 99, 9% of the production is exported to Germany, and already 54 000 houses exported to Germany.

www.annahouse.lv CREATIVE Kurzeme

AN INOVATIVE BABY-MONITORING DEVICE CREATORS OF VIRTUAL HOMES

B phone is an innovative baby's The uniqueness of the B-phone - its The main task behind ConcepticHQ The latest product company offers guardian, which is linked to a parents' transmitting radius being unlimited work is to turn customer’s ideas into the market is the creation of a 360- cell phone. The idea for a new product because the device operates within a attractive and user-friend ly degree panoramic virtual tour. A developed when the future mobile operator’s network. When a applications. Be it an Internet, cell virtual tour is a simulation of a real manufacturers observed that the child moves or creates a sound, the B- phone or social network application. space that allows the visitor to freely traditional product no longer met the phone calls or sends an SMS to the look at the full visual spectrum. needs of today’s parent. cell phone connected to it. The Virtual tours are useful tools in the parents can respond to their child tourism, real estate and leisure using the device, which enables them sectors, which allow potential visitors to communicate with and listen to to get a virtual view of the selected their baby. location or service. There are many unused advantages of virtual tours in the real estate market as well. By creating a 360-degree panoramic view of the property, it is possible to save valuable time and money while offering potential buyers guided tours. AUDIO GIDE FOR MODERN TOURISTS In recent years the demand for electronically guided tours for tourist who wish to explore cities, museums, exhibitions and other events has increased dramatically. The reason for such demand is simple - a personal guide is a luxury which not everyone can afford due to expense, time, or availability.

Company develops implements and manages various electronic and audio solutions for the tourism industry. The development team consists of well travelled people who love all things pertaining to travel who make use of their experience and passion while creating new innovative solutions for tourists.

www.b-phone.eu/lv www.audiogids.lv www.conceptichq.com CREATIVE Kurzeme

PALLY CHAIR – TOY FURNITURE MADE OF LATVIAN WOOD The mission of MWF is to create new, Pally chair is the first functional The belief of the Big Tree Company is competitive products with an added design product to be introduced to that the quality of trees that are grown value and modern, functional design. local and export markets. Pally are in Latvia cannot be replaced with The company’s core business is the both- furniture and a toy at the same laminates or other wood imitations. production of furniture made of solid time which helps to develop logical Oak, birch, pine, apple, cherry trees all wood. With the creation of The Pally thinking of a child, helps them to grow in Latvia. There are so many chair, company is starting to operate understand color thru the use of different options to create beautiful in a new sector- production of colorful ornaments. This toy develops wooden furniture for your home or industrial design products in the creative and logical thinking of a office. cooperation with designers. child, improves children’s eye and hand coordination. Big Tree produces a wide range of furniture ranging from doors, kitchen Pally’s chair is the first functional appliances, cabinets, beds and chairs to design product produced by MWF and fine carvings. The key of success lies in certainly not the least to be the experienced and passionate distributed throughout the EU. employees who are create their designs using modern equipment and multifunctional devices.

www.mwf.lv www.bigtree.lv CREATIVE Kurzeme

INNOVATIONS IN MECHANIKA Ltd. "Mechanika" has a clear mission- A product that is currently in the to develop and introduce new and development phase and has a lot of innovative products to the market. potential is a solar powered lawn The company operates in different mower that can be used for the phases of product development- maintenance of residual gardens. beginning with the creation of an idea This is a unique product due to the of a new product to developing very fact that it powered b green energy particular technical details of the and besides that it is very safe – lawn product and finishing with the mower is being developed to be able organization of production process. to avoid animals, children, flower The company has created a number beds and other objects that shouldn’t of unique and innovative products. be cut. For example they have made a n u m b e r o f i n n ova t i ve fo o d processing equipment, photo and video tools for video production as well as products related to waste management.

This document is prepared with the financial support from EU. takes responsibility for the contents of this document and it can not be sen as an official opinion of EU.

http://mechanik-a.com/about/