In order to ensure the development of a cultural offer oriented towards social inclusion, that has a positive impact on local communities and promotes dialogue with socially vulnerable groups, as well as reduces social inequalities and strengthens the cultural identity of communities through cultural services, increases tourism flows and stimulates entrepreneurship, employment and job creation, the Government at its meeting on 17 December approved the regulatory framework for the European Union funds programme developed by the Ministry of Culture (MC).*
The programme will be implemented in the form of an open call for proposals, providing support to such cultural places or cultural objects in which:
socially inclusive cultural services will be provided, or existing services will be adapted for both local communities and vulnerable groups of society,
new forms of cooperation with local communities, other cultural organisations, as well as representatives of other fields will be developed,
cultural infrastructure will be adapted (which is necessary for the development of an inclusive and innovative cultural service and to improve the accessibility of the cultural environment),
to qualify for the implementation of the project, the applicant's main activity must be in the cultural or creative sector
if the project idea is submitted by a municipality (in the case where the supported infrastructure is owned by the municipality), then it attracts a cooperation partner whose main activity is in the cultural or creative sector.
When implementing the program, it is planned to support at least 11 cultural and tourism objects, ensuring at least 16,500 visitors.
The total funding of the program reaches 20,166,038 euros (of which flexibility funding – 5,243,899 euros).
To help potential project applicants prepare for the development of the application, at the beginning of December this year, the Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the Latvian Academy of Culture, organized a two-day training, which promoted the understanding of cultural organizations and improved practical knowledge about the accessibility of culture for people with functional disabilities, as well as facilitated the implementation of solutions to improve the accessibility of cultural organizations represented by the participants.
* - “Rules for the implementation of the Specific Support Objective 4.3.2 "Enhancing the role of culture and tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation" of the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027”
Additional information for the media:
Lita Kokale,
Head of the Public Relations Division, Ministry of Culture
(+ 371) 26469946
Lita.Kokale@km.gov.lv
(Translated with the help of DeepL Translate)
