On 15 October, from 9:30 to 17:00, Imanta Cultural Centre will host the Pārdaugava Future Forum – a day of discussions, personal stories, exchange of views and shared thinking about the future of Pārdaugava. The forum will explore residents’ involvement in shaping their neighbourhoods, a sense of belonging and cooperation, the role of contemporary art in neighbourhoods, and the impact of the urban environment on our everyday lives and wellbeing.
Through discussions and personal accounts, we will look at various aspects of life in Pārdaugava, considering both the current situation and the opportunities and challenges associated with the future of its neighbourhoods.
PROGRAMME:
9:30–10:00 Registration
10:00 Opening remarks | Laima Geikina (Chair of the Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Committee of Riga City Council)
10:10–10:30 Pārdaugava in Numbers and Facts | Sandis Kalniņš (Director of the Pārdaugava Cultural Association, an institution of Riga State City Municipality)
10:30–10:50 How to Encourage Residents to Take Action and Create Together | Kaspars Lielgalvis (Cultural environment developer)
10:50–11:10 Personal Story: How to Find Your Place? | Pauls Pujāts (Olympian, entrepreneur)
11:10–11:50 Discussion: Opportunities for Public Participation in Decision-Making for a Better Future | Moderator: Āris Ādlers (expert in civil society and community engagement). Participants: Laima Geikina (Chair of the Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Committee of Riga City Council), Agrita Kiopa (representative of the Dzirciems and Iļģuciems neighbourhood associations), Kristaps Pipars (designer and builder of the Bolderāja skate park and cycling track), Jāzeps Bikše (temporary space use mentor).
11:50–12:10 How to Spot an Opportunity and Find a New Niche Product? | Dāvis Jurka (Artistic Director of Pink Noise Riga)
12:10–13:00 Coffee break
13:00–13:30 Personal Story: From a Sense of Belonging to Cooperation – What Riga Can Learn from Liepāja 2027 | Inta Šoriņa (Chair of the Board of the Liepāja 2027 Foundation)
13:30–14:15 Discussion: Contemporary Art in Neighbourhoods. Are We Finally Ready for It? | Moderator: Kaspars Vanags (curator, Director of the Pauls Stradiņš Museum of the History of Medicine). Participants: Katrīna Jaunupe (Head of the “Art Needs Space” Foundation), Brigita Zelča (artist), Kitija Vasiļjeva (art producer), Daira Bite (neighbourhood coordinator at the Imanta branch of the Riga Neighbourhood Residents Centre).
14:15–14:45 Coffee break
14:45–15:30 Discussion: How to Adapt to the Pace of Modern Life – Mental Health at Work and in the Urban Environment | Moderator: Henrieta Verhoustinska (Latvian Television journalist). Participants: Elīna Baltskara (Latvian Radio presenter), Pauls Pujāts (Olympian, entrepreneur), Marija Ābeltiņa (PhD in psychology, psychotherapist).
15:30–16:00 Stories of Belonging: What Shapes People’s Sense of Belonging Over a Thousand-Year Perspective, and Why “My Childhood Pārdaugava for Tomorrow” Is a Great Example | Mārtiņš Daugulis (social anthropologist)
16:00–17:00 Networking
16:30 Walk to the installations of the 2nd International Pārdaugava Art Symposium “Birth”
Admission is free.
Please note that visitors with mobility impairments should be aware that the event will take place on the second floor and the building does not have a lift.
The event is organised as part of Project No. 4.3.2.0/1/25/A/011, “Development of Environmental and Service Accessibility Solutions at Imanta Cultural Centre of the Pārdaugava Cultural Association to Promote an Inclusive Cultural Process”, and is co-funded by the European Union.
Information prepared by: Imanta Cultural Centre.
(Translated with the help of DeepL Translate)
