​The thematic issue of "Letonica" "Urban Experiences: Narratives, Memories and Place Heritage" (#54)

"The importance of urban research has grown significantly since 2007, when for the first time more people in the world lived in urban areas than in rural areas. New communities have emerged in the city, no longer bound by kinship but by knowledge, shared living space, economic interests, and the dynamics of public urban community practices that include both everyday rituals and festive events. Except for a few examples, so far, little attention has been paid in Latvian urban studies to the city from the point of view of the local population, using ethnographic research methods. One such urban research initiative is the project "Urban Experiences: Narratives, Memories and Place Heritage" (No. lzp-2020/1-0096), implemented by the of the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art and supported by the Latvian Council of Science, which ran from the beginning of 2021 until the end of 2023," writes Gatis Ozoliņš, folklorist and leading researcher at the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia and editor of the thematic issue.

The thematic issue brings together 13 scientific publications, 15 researchers from 5 institutions are represented: Elīna Gailīte (ILFA), Rita Grīnvalde (ILFA), Justīne Jaudzema (ILFA), Sigita Ignatjeva and Anda Kuduma (RTU Liepāja), Angelika Juško-Štekele (Rēzeknes Tehnoloģiju akadēmija), Janīna Kursīte and Ingus Barovskis (Latvijas Universitātes Humanitāro zinātņu fakultāte), Otto Ķenga (Latvijas Kultūras akadēmija), Aigars Lielbārdis (ILFA), Gatis Ozoliņš (ILFA), Olga Senkāne (Rēzeknes Tehnoloģiju akadēmija), Una Smilgaine (ILFA), Kārlis Vērdiņš (ILFA) and Ieva Vīvere (ILFA).

Design by Tatjana Raičiņeca. Literary editors Signe Raudive and Laine Kristberga. The issue is published with the support of the University of Latvia and the Latvian Council of Science.

Open access: https://lulfmi.lv/en/Letonica-Nr-54

More about journal: https://lulfmi.lv/en/page/view?link=journal-letonica/about