XXVI General Assembly , Dear friends!

Welcome to the XXVI General Assembly of Association of the and Museums around the „Castles and Collections, Collections and Castles”, which will take a place in Tukums and , Latvia. Collecting issues and use of the collection is a key concept in the museums since their beginning. Castles and museums around the Baltic Sea have rich and diverse collections – some of them are connected only with a particular , some are created for the castle. In many cases, the collections situated in the castle are wider than theme and period of the castle and the castle is only a place for the museum. There are also cases when the castle did not have its own collection and the museum needs to look for new approaches. The aim of the conference day in Tukums is to stimulate reflection and debate about the relationship between collections and castles and the museum’s mission in the contemporary society, the nature of interpretation of the collections in the castle museums, to reflect upon the process of communication and the working practices of the museums situated in the castles. The participants of the General Assembly are invited to reconsider their collections in the context of the theme and museum’s mission, the needs of their target groups, in order to answer questions: Does the collection always helps to explain the castle. How does the museum manage in cases when the castle houses a big collection not related to the building history? What are approaches to the interpretation of the collections situated in the castle and the castle collections? What are communication strategies of the castles and the museums? How can the castles and the museums around the Baltic Sea cooperate in order to reflect on the Baltic common heritage? The participants are invited to take with them some small symbolic object, which is important for them and has a specific meaning for the particular castle and/or the collection. It is planned to tell stories and use the interpretation activities, present best practises and share experiences during the Session 2, in order to involve each participant and communicate the theme in the context of the above-mentioned issues. Mrs. Päivi Partanen, president of the Association of Castles and Museums around the Baltic Sea Mrs Agrita Ozola, director of Tukums museum

XXVI General Assembly of Association of the Castles and Museums around the Baltic Sea „Castles and Collections, Collections and Castles”, Meeting venue: Tukums and Bauska, Latvia Date: September 7-9, 2016

Programme:

Prelude day, Wednesday, September 7 Arrival of the participants to Tukums (transport from airport will be arranged if necessary)

17.00 Board meeting of the Association at the Manor, M. Parka Street 7, Tukums

19.00 Official opening of the General Assembly by president of the Association of Castles and Museums around the Baltic Sea, Mrs. Päivi Partanen

Welcome diner at house, M. Parka Street 7, Tukums

Conference day. Thursday, September 8 Tukums, Durbe Manor, M. Parka Street 7 9. 30 Registration 10. 00 Opening of the conference on the subject “Castles and Collections, Collections and Castles” Mrs. Päivi Partanen, president of the Association of Castles and Museums around the Baltic Sea Agrita Ozola, Director of the Tukums museum. Latvia. Introduction in the collecting issues in the museums. 11. 30 Session 1 Ojārs Spārītis, President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Some contemplations on Baltic heritage issues. Ina Līne, Dainis Bruģis. Latvia. Musealisation of a castle and musealisation in the castle. How to manage issues of the collecting in the castle museum. Reija Eeva. Finland. Public interface Finna in Lappeenranta Museums. Cooperation in the field of the collecting, research and interpretation of the collections. 13.00 Lunch 14.00 Session 2 Interactive session: All participants share their best practises in the field of the collecting, interpretation and representation of collections using symbolic objects and/or photos. In case of many participants parallel sessions will be held. 16.30. Short excursion around the Durbe Manor 17.00 Departure to the hotel 18.00 Departure to the Pastariņš museum, Zentenes pagasta “Bisnieki”, Tukuma novads 18.30. Programme and diner 21.00 Departure to Tukums 21.30 Arrival in Tukums

General Assembly and interpretation tour Friday, September 9 8.30 Departure to Rundāle Palace museum (Pilsrundāle, Rundāles pagasts, Rundāles novads) 10.30 Guided tour around the Rundāle Palace museum 13.00 Lunch (Rundāle Palace museum cafe) 14.00 Departure to (Pilskalns, Bauska, Bauska novads) 14.30. Bauska castle - The XXVI General Assembly of the Association 17.00 Guided tour around the Bauska Castle 19.00 Dinner (Bauska Castle cafe) 21.00 Departure to Tukums 23.00 Arrival in Tukums

Excursion day Saturday, September 10

9.00 Free time/Walk to the Market/Departure for those who are leaving

9.00 Full day excursion to the Castle and Kuldīga District museum. Arrival in Tukums at about 19.00

Registration

Organisers suggest to register for the conference and XXVI General Assembly of Association of the Castles and Museums around the Baltic Sea „Castles and Collections, Collections and Castles” at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/xxvi-general-assembly-of-association-of-the-castles-and-museums- around-the-baltic-sea-castles-and-tickets-26147041505

Conference fee

Conference fee 80.00 € for all participants includes all the meals and transportation from hotels to the all venues during the conference days. Transportation from home to Tukums and back has to be paid by each participant. Organisers will offer a full day excursion for those who would like to visit Western part of Latvia, particularly Ventspils Castle and Kuldīga District museum and waterfall (participation fee is 30.00 euros)

Participants are asked to pay a conference fee, and excursion fee (if selected), before August 20, 2016

Bank details: Tukums museum Harmonijas iela 7, Tukums LV 3101 Latvia Reg, nr. 90000052231 A/S Swedbank Swift code: HABALV Account number (Internet bank): LV06 HABA 0551 0275 8729 1

Participants are asked to contact organisers if they need an invoice.

Information for participants

The conference will be held in various locations in Latvia. Reception, registration and conference sessions will take place at Durbe Manor house, which is a branch of Tukums museum. The XXVI General Assembly will take place at Bauska Castle, recently renovated Renaissance period castle of Dukes.

Participants can find some information about Tukums and Tukums museum here: www.tukums.lv ; www.tukumamuzejs.lv Information about Bauska Castle is available at: www.bauskaspils.lv Information about Rundāle palace museum can be found at: http://rundale.net

Accommodation Every participant book and pay for their own accommodation. Tukums offers several hotels and guesthouse. Organisers recommend that participants book the accommodation as soon as it is possible. A group reservation is made at Guest house “Stelles”, Talsu street 74, Tukums (e-mail: [email protected] ). This is a new place, recently opened, at about 10 min walking distance from the centre of the , about 10 mi drive to the conference venue - Durbe Manor house. They have double rooms for 55.00 euros and single rooms for 45.00 euros per night. It is possible to have a room for 3 and 4 persons too. Participants should mention Baltic Castles and Museums when make the bookings.

Participants can choose other hotels in Tukums. The easiest way to book for other hotels is to look at www.booking.com

Getting to Tukums Participants can travel to Tukums by car, bus or train from Riga. There are daily bus and train connections from Riga central railway station of Riga central bus station. Find information about buses and trains at www.1188.lv Participants can reach Riga International Airport by air, Riga passenger port by ferry, Riga railway station by train or Riga central bus station by bus. Organisers will arrange a shuttle bus from and to Riga airport.

About Tukums

Tukums is a town situated in the central part of Latvia, situated about 65 km to the west from Riga. The town has more than 20.000 inhabitants, and the has 36,000 inhabitants. Tukums is a centre of District, called Tukuma novads, which comprises 10 small rural districts and the town. Tukums is known for its cobblestone streets and picturesque landscape, artisans and museums. The mobile application Visit Tukums, developed by the Tourism Information Centre of Tukums, is available for all smartphone users free of charge. On Visit Tukums you can find information about tourist attractions, available activities and accommodations with precise locations shown on the map, information about upcoming events and exhibitions, as well as

other useful information to travellers. Tourist routes for every liking are also available on the application to make travelling around Tukums more interesting. The application is available in Latvian, English and Lithuanian. Android version is available for download on Play Store. iOS version is available for download on App Store.

Language The official language in Latvia is Latvian, but English is most popular second language taught in school. Most of Latvians are speaking also Russian. The conference language will be English.

Currency The monetary unit used in Latvia is the EURO. Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Latvia at hotels, stores, restaurants. Everybody can get cash with credit card at the ATM’s.

Climate The Latvian climate in September may vary. In September, the average temperature is usually around 13 C but it can reach above 20 C on a sunny day or about 0 C in night. It could be rainy. We suggest participants to take a wormer jacket.

Time zone Latvia is in the East European Time Zone.

Contact If you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact our conference manager, Head of the Public Relations department of Tukums museum Kristīne Ozola: [email protected]