From May 12 till May 18, annual Creativity Week “radi!2014” takes place all over Latvia. This year the Week is dedicated to design issues and design thinking. Several big conferences, seminars, workshops, exhibitions and fashion shows are included in the programme.

 

Nowadays design builds bridges between creative sector, education, entrepreneurship, state administration, technologies and other industries. Smart and meaningful use of culture and design, grounded on environment values, can facilitate business, influence development of innovations, as well as improve social conditions and our life quality. Design thinking is a creative work method, which is focused on the result.  

 

Ms. Dace Melbārde, Culture Minister, pointed out: “The Creativity Week coincides with changes in nature – burgeons burst, everything blossoms out, and we wish to say how important it is to unleash human potential and creative forces. We have been given a natural ability to be creative. Latvia is not rich in natural resources or considerable labour force. Therefore, we have to find resources somewhere else – in intuition, imagination, knowledge, and above all – in courage. Creative ideas cannot be implemented without courage and one of our goals is to embolden people to come up with their creative ideas, to find supportive fellows and implement these ideas in life.”

 

“radi!2014” opening event “Ideas Gym”, on May 13, and educational conference, on May 14, are two key events of the Creativity Week.

 

“Ideas Gym” is open to professionals of creative industries and the ones who are interested in seeking answers to the following questions – what is design thinking and does design drive innovations in Europe?; how does design influence environment and life quality; do mutual partnerships possess development perspectives in creative industries?; what should be the creative partnerships programme 2014–2015?

 

The event was opened by Culture Minister Dace Melbārde, and expertise was shared by not only representatives of Latvian design and creative industries, bet also internationally recognized experts, including Anna Whicher, lead researcher on policies for design and innovation at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Prof. Marzia Mortati and Prof. Beatrice Villari from Polytechnic University of Milan, Alice Rawsthorn, design journalist, critic and author of the book “Hello World: Where Design Meets Life”, and others.

 

Task of the Educational Conference “Future School Begins Today” is to seek for ideas, how to form an innovative approach to the learning process. The Conference was opened by Ms. Ina Druviete, Education and Science Minister.

 

Education and Science Minister Ina Druviete said: “It is important that education system provides child with not only formal and measurable knowledge, but also develops creativity. During the learning process we focus more and more on child’s individuality and personality, and we do not see schoolchildren as static units in the labour market any more. A lot has been thought about developing social and emotional skills. Hopefully the Creativity Week “radi!” will provide ideas for innovative approach in both learning and research processes, because scientific activities are impossible without a creative approach.”

 

Practical part of the Conference consists of workshops. By using design thinking methods and delivering short thematic lectures, ideas how to improve school environment and develop creativity within the learning process are being sought. Louise Bamfield, Associate Director of Education at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (Great Britain), Mikko Leppänen, Director of Viherkallio Elementary school (Finland), Aija Freimane, Associate Professor of the Design Department at the Art Academy of Latvia and others share their experience.

 

During the Creativity Week, especial attention is being paid to fashion industry as one of the most vivid representatives of design sector. On May 16, Didier Grumbach, President of the French Federation of Couture, Ready-to-Wear Couturiers and Fashion Designers (Fédération Française de la Couture, du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de mode), and Farid Chenoune, fashion historian, journalist, consultant and expert in fashion and luxury products, will deliver lectures at the Art Academy of Latvia. On its turn, on May 17, Museum of Decorative Arts and Design will mark its 25^th anniversary with a special surprise – fashion show presenting the Museum’s collection “Timeless”, which has been created in cooperation with the fashion brand “QooQoo”. 

 

Already for the third year, initiators of “radi!2014” are the Latvian Culture Ministry and the British Council Latvia Office. This year series of events have been created together with strategic partners: the Ministry of Education and Science, the State Chancellery, the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, platform FOLD, foundation “Riga 2014” and other cooperation partners.

 

Informative support: EuroAWK, Delfi.lv, ZL.lv, ir.lv and foundation “Riga 2014”.

 

More about the Creativity Week you can learn at:

www.radilatvija.lv,

radi!@draugiem.lv,

radi!@twitter.com,

radi!@facebook.com,

radi!@youtube.com. 

 

Programme of the Creativity Week “radi!2014”

 

MONDAY, May 12

 

Inspiration Afternoon

The Embassy of Finland, 1 Kalpaka blvd., Riga, beginning at: 16:30

The Embassy of Finland to Latvia and the Finnish Institute in Estonia organize “Inspiration Afternoon” for representatives of creative businesses and students, where one will be able to share experience and highlight good practice examples in creative economics.  

 

Marit Hohtokari, consultant of “Finland Sillanrakentajat”, Jenni Moberg, creator of “0.7 Design”, Liene Kuplā, representative of creative incubator “Andrejsala” and Agnese Cimuška, Head of the Latvian Music Export Society, will partake in the discussion. 

 

“Second Breath”

Berga Bazārs, 13 Marijas Str., Riga, May 12– 18

Promoting green and environment friendly lifestyle and fashion, charity shop “Otrā elpa” (Second Breath) in cooperation with such artists and designers as Līvija Letīcija Labonovska (LLL), Ingrīda Zābere (Recycled.lv), Kārlis Ulmanis (Ulmaņbikses), Agnese Kalniņa (Prieka Bikses) and others, will introduce and sell products from recycled goods and clothing brand – “Otrās elpas dizains” (Second Breath Design).

 

Creative workshops “Create Together”

Slampe kindergarten “Pienenite”, Slampe district, Tukums reg.

May 12–16, creative activities for children and parents, including creation of a common keepsake or design object, which will serve as a reminder: “You are important for me, and I love you!”.

 

TUESDAY, May 13

 

Ideas Gym

Creative Industries Centre of the Riga Technical University, 18 Azene Str., Riga, beginning at: 10:00

“Ideas Gym” will be opened by Culture Minister of the Republic of Latvia Dace Melbārde. Four “gymnastic sessions” will take place during the event, where participants will seek answers to the questions: what design thinking is and whether design drives innovations in Europe; how design influences environment and life quality; whether mutual partnerships possess development perspectives in creative industries; and what the creative partnerships programme 2014–2015 should be.

 

Not only representatives of Latvian design and creative industries, bet also internationally recognized experts, including Anna Whicher, lead researcher on policies for design and innovation at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Prof. Marzia Mortati and Prof. Beatrice Villari from Polytechnic University of Milan, Alice Rawsthorn, author of the book “Hello World: Where Design Meets Life”, design journalist and critic, and others, will take part in the event and share their experience.

 

Programme: ej.uz/IdejuVingrotava_Programma

Registration: ej.uz/piesakos_Ideju_Vingrotava (number of participants is limited)

 

Live broadcast of the event will be provided at “radi!2014” home page www.radilatvija.lv.

 

Le Game – uncompromising expression of creativity in France

Demola Latvia at Spīķeri, 10 Maskavas Str., 2^nd floor, Riga, beginning at: 17:00

The event is devised for creators of video and mobile games, programmers, designers and all parties interested in. Raphaël Sautron, founder of the company “Le Game” will introduce public with the French market of video-games and measures implemented by his company to conquer foreign markets, including issues on encouraging establishment of new enterprises in France and developing export.

 

Meeting with design thinking expert from Great Britain – Anna Whicher

Riga IT Demo Centre, 21 Valdemara Str., 2^nd floor, Riga, beginning at: 18:00

The event is devised for PR specialists and NGO representatives, who will be able to ask questions to design thinking expert from Great Britain Anna Whicher.

 

WEDNESDAY, May 14

 

Educational Conference “Future School Begins Today”

Architecture and Media Centre H2O 6 of the Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration(RISEBA), 6 Ūdens Str., Riga, beginning at: 10:00

The goal of the Conference is to facilitate understanding about innovative approach in the learning process, paying special attention to design and design thinking. Practical part of the Conference will consist of workshops, where by delivering short thematic lectures and using design thinking methods, ideas how to improve school environment and develop creativity between a pupil and the teacher within the learning process will be sought. The Conference will be opened by Education and Science Minister Ina Druviete. Louise Bamfield, Associate Director of Education at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (Great Britain), Mikko Leppänen, Director of Viherkallio Elementary school (Finland), Aija Freimane, Associate Professor of the Design Department at the Art Academy of Latvia and others will share their experience.

 

Live broadcast of the Conference will be provided at “radi!2014” home page www.radilatvija.lv.

 

Programme: radi2014_izgl-konf_14052014_final.pdf

Registrationto the Conference is open till May 12, 12:00, please click here: http://ejuz.lv/konferenceradi2014

 

Design thinking for elaborating personnel development strategy

The State Chancellery, 36 Brīvības blvd., Riga, beginning at:10:00

During the seminar – workshop state administration employees will be introduced to how design thinking can be applied to elaboration of personnel development strategy.   Anna Whicher, lead researcher on policies for design and innovation of Cardiff Metropolitan University, will share Great Britain experience in this issue

 

Live broadcast at “radi!2014” home page www.radilatvija.lv and the State Chancellery home page http://www.mk.gov.lv.

 

Street Art Festival “Blank Canvas”

Culture Summerhouse at Esplanāde 2014, Esplanāde Park, Riga, beginning at: 13:00

Readings of local and foreign lecturers of the Festival will take place.  

 

 

THURSTDAYy, May 15                                                                            

 

Interaction between crafts and design – contemporary identity of Latvia. Is craftsmanship a creative industry in Latvia?

Art Academy of Latvia, 13 Kalpaka blvd., Riga, beginning at: 10:00

Master degree students of the LAA Design Department will present results to the design audit of the Latvian crafts sector. Also a discussion, where its participants will seek answers to the following questions: whether craftsmanship is a part of creative industries; which crafts are essentially creative; and what is a potential of crafts sector to create new, innovative and unique products, etc., will take place.

 

Discussion “Culture space in urban environment development”

55 Lāčplēša Str., Riga Design and Art College. Time to be clarified later on. 

Questions of the discussion: how does contemporary culture space in urban environment facilitate creative thinking and economic development (transfer effect)?; what is an object character of the urban environment heritage nowadays; and what image of the contemporary culture object do we create? What is a role of creative neighbourhoods in diversifying urban environment image?; what is an influence of contemporary urban environment culture space on life quality, lifestyle, emotional intelligence, system of values, thinking and experience?; what is a good practice of creating and maintaining an image of the culture object, visual identity, brand and communication strategy? What is interaction between contemporary culture object and brand and cultural heritage?; what should be done to foster creation of new partnerships and thus facilitate urban environment revitalization?

 

[CANCELLED] Creative night workshop “Alberta ekspresis” (Albert’s Express)

Albert’s College, 22 Skolas Str., Riga, beginning at 21:30

During the night workshop, teams of students and other interested in people will work under the guidance of mentors to find solution to the problem situations of 3–5 enterprises from creative industries field and present results to representatives of these enterprises.

 

Open think-tank “Urban design challenges”

LiepU Art Research Laboratory, 13 Kūrmājas pr., Liepaja, beginning at: 15:00

Focus of the think-tank – influence of creative industries on contemporary urban environment. During the conversation, it is expected to collect thoughts and views on what is a high quality city, suitable for life, work and spending leisure time; about involvement of local communities in the city development; and about significance of creative services and small business, as well as about Liepaja development within the context of creative industries.

 

Creative workshop “Seeking the Future”

Riga youth centre “Kaņieris”, 15 Kaņiera Str., Riga, beginning at: 17:00

Creative workshop on future modelling and prototyping ideas will take place.

 

 

FRIDAY, May 16

 

Latvian Architecture Award of the year 2014

Riga Bourse Art Museum, 6 Doma Sq., Riga, series of lectures begin at 9:30

A special guest of the annual Award ceremony, former Mayor of Bogota (Columbia) Antanas Mockus and other members of the competition’s international jury will present their reports.  

 

Latvian Architecture Award 2014 ceremony

Torņa Str., Old Riga, between Architect’s House and War Museum, beginning at 18:00.

Number of places – limited; entrance upon registration in advance.

More detailed information: www.architecture2014.lv

 

International Art, Science and Culture Innovations Conference: “The Renewable Future”

Goethe Institute, 1 Torņa Str., beginning at 17:00

Conference series (16–18.05.), where sustainability issues of various spheres will be discussed, begin, thus fostering development of new, interdisciplinary way of thinking and practices in art, science, contemporary culture, as well as in innovative forms of entrepreneurship, etc. A theme of the first Conference day is “Fields”. On May 17, the Conference will be continued by themes “Art and Science” and “Let’s play the Fields”. On May 18, in Liepaja, continuation of the Conference will take place with “Art as Research”.

 

Fashion – mirror of political and social changes. French contemporary fashion Art Academy of Latvia, 13 Kalpaka blvd., Riga, beginning at: 11:00

Didier Grumbach, President of the French Federation of Couture, Ready-to-Wear Couturiers and Fashion Designers, will deliver a lecture dedicated to fashion as phenomenon that reflects all kind of changes in society. Also Farid Chenoune, fashion historian, journalist, consultant and expert in fashion and luxury products, will deliver lecture about contemporary French fashion panorama – tendencies, styles and brands, as well as about young and promising designers.

 

Workshop for generating new ideas “Greenpoint Cup for the greenest university in Latvia”

Main building of Swedbank, 1 a Balasta dambis, Riga, beginning at 10:00

“Greenpoint Cup” is a competition established by the Greenpoint Latvia office, where students are encouraged to mobilize creative thinking and create new, competitive solutions for environmental problems. 25 teams, which will be recognized as the most creative in the first stage of the competition, will take part in it. 

 

Creative workshop “Make a Film in the Library”

Culture Information Systems Centre, Tērbatas Str.53-2, office Nr. 7, Riga, beginning at:14:00

During the creative workshop, participants will learn how to make video-stories by using the absolute minimum of technical equipment and simple software. Public libraries’ librarians, public libraries’ users and other people interested in are invited to participate in this workshop. 

 

Lectures. Exhibitions. Fashion show. “Golden Section”

Liepaja Design and Art College, 18/20 Alejas Str., Liepaja, beginning at: 11:00

Already for the seventh year, Liepaja Design and Art College organizes an event “Golden Section”, and the theme of this year is “Impulse”. “Golden Section” is being organized with an aim to facilitate public awareness and understanding of design, art and creative industry’s importance in development of Latvia and a role of educational establishment in it. During the event, a conference, exhibitions openings, discussions, presentations and welcoming of graduates will take place.

 

Creative workshop “Design thinking in development of municipalities and local communities”

Beverina Region Municaplity, beginning at: 14:00

Participants of the creative workshop will be introduced to design thinking principles, as well as to history and good practice of their application. Beverina Region development plan will be analysed, including the process of landscaping the region and forming community. Results of the workshop will be presented in proposals and scenarios how to improve this process according to design thinking principles.

 

SATURDAY, May 17

 

Fashion Show “Timeless”

Decorative Art and Design Museum, 10/20 Skārņu Str., Riga, beginning at: 22:00

During the Museums Night, the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design will mark its 25^th anniversary with a special surprise – cooperation project between the Museum and the fashion brand “QooQoo” that has resulted in a clothing collection “Timeless”. Fashion designer Aļona Bauska, who represents the fashion brand “QooQoo”, will create the clothing collection inspired by art works from the Museum’s collection. Designer’s concept is to “encapsulate” feelings and values of another era in designs and dress patterns appropriate and actual for our time.

 

International Art, Science and Culture Innovations Conference: “The Renewable Future”, the 2^nd day

Goethe Institute, 1 Torņa Str., beginning at 10:00

Conference series, where sustainability issues of various spheres will be discussed. Themes “Art and Science” and “Let’s Play Fields” on agenda. 

 

Photography portfolio show–competition “Open Case”

Latvian Culture College, 57 Bruņinieku Str., Riga, time will be clarified later on.

Already for the 4^th time Photography portfolio show-competition provides an opportunity both to experienced photographers and young ones to present their works to wider public, as well as receive professional viewpoint from the experts of the field.

Description of the event: www.kulturaskoledza.lv/641-aicinam-pieteikties-ikgadejai-fotografiju-portfolio-skatei-konkursam-open-case

 

Exhibition of the best works of the Latvian Architecture Award 2014 presented within the International Night of Museums

Torņa Str., Old Riga, between Architect’s House and War Museum, time to be clarified later on

 

 

SUNDAY, May 18

 

International Art, Science and Culture Innovations Conference: “The Renewable Future”, the 2^nd day

Art Research Laboratory of the Liepaja University, beginning at: 13:00

The concluding conference “Art as Research” of the conference series, where sustainability issues of various spheres will be discussed, will take place.

 

Before and after the Creativity Week

 

Workshop – seminar “Šmēling’s Spring 2014”

From March 18 till May 22 students are to explore problems of Riga post-war residential neighbourhoods. At the end of the seminar, they will come up with a proposal of realistic development strategy for these neighbourhoods. Field works of the event will take place in Purvciems neighbourhood, in the quarter of Vaidavas, Dzelzavas, Stirnu and Ūnijas streets.

 

Social campaign - “Tell about your creative neighbour!”

Campaign takes place in the social network Facebook.com page of the foundation “Perifērija”. Aim of the campaign – identify, highlight and show to wider society, how many creative people reside in Latvia. Campaign “Tell about your creative neighbour!”focuses mainly on people who create and make something special and unique by their own hands. This campaign is not to be proud of yourself, but your neighbour. By “neighbour” we mean not only a real neighbour, living next doors to you, but anyone you have met and remember as a creator of something interesting and who is worth to be known and recognized by others.

 

Design workshop and concert “Alice’s Wonderland or Fountains and Self-Awakening”

May 10, Svitene School, Svitene, Rundale reg.

On May 10, workshops–lectures for children and youngsters on design and creative industries; meetings with “Culture Ambassadors of Latvia; and story-telling about Riga – Culture Capital of Europe, have taken place. Sketches of Svitene manor house transformations and sketches for the “tea square” have been made, as well as fountain “awakening” has taken place.

 

Open-air exhibition “Give a thing the second life!”

May 19,  Ropaži kindergarten “Annele” territory, Ropaži Park

Ropaži children, youngsters and their parents will create new designs from already used materials and things. The works will be displayed in Ropaži Park, on May 19.

 

Forum “Wider. Deeper.”

May 22, Sigulda region Culture Centre

During the Forum, professionals of creative industries, culture field experts, entrepreneurs, pedagogues of culture education establishments and municipal officials will have a discussion on landscape space development in Sigulda after the year of European Culture Capital status, as well as about lessening the influence of events and festivals onto historical centres.