2024 at the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia
The year 2024 has been vibrant, significant, and full of events at the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia (LU LFMI). We are truly pleased with what has been accomplished and planned, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has collaborated with us this year.
We celebrated:
– The centenary of the Latviešu folkloras krātuve.
– The tenth anniversary of the digital archive garamantas.lv.
Organized events and conferences:
– ISFNR 19th Congress – one of the world’s largest academic events for folklore scholars.
– The international conference Tradicionālās kultūras arhīvi: 100 + 10.
– The first Baltijas Digitālu humanitāro zinātņu forums.
– The international conference Rainis un Aspazija starp laikabiedriem Eiropas kultūrtelpā.
– The cultural festival Gunars Saliņš un Elles ķēķis.
– Many other scientific and public engagement events, large and small.
Congratulations to our distinguished colleagues:
– Laine Kristberga became Head of the Department of Arts at the beginning of 2024.
– Beatrise Reidzāne and Arnolds Laimonis Klotiņš were granted the title of emeritus researchers.
– Inguna Daukste-Silasproģe was elected as a full member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.
– Rita Grīnvalde and Arnolds Laimonis Klotiņš received Certificates of Recognition from the Cabinet of Ministers.
– Inguna Daukste-Silasproģe and Kārlis Vērdiņš received the Latvian Literature Annual Awards.
– Ivars Šteinbergs received the Annual Award in Art Criticism named after Normunds Naumanis.
– Digne Ūdre-Lielbārde defended her doctoral thesis at the University of Tartu and was awarded a PhD.
European recognition:
LU LFMI received an Honourable Mention from the European Union Citizen Science Prize for the platform iesaisties.lv, which promotes citizen science initiatives in the humanities and cultural heritage sectors.
Conclusion of a 60-year project:
The 13th volume of the academic edition Latviešu tautasdziesmas, titled Dzīve tautās. Mūža vakars. Bēres, was published, concluding one of the most ambitious projects in Latvian folklore publication and book history, spanning more than 60 years.
Publications by LU LFMI Press:
Two new issues of the journal Letonica were published, and the journal was ranked in the top Scopus quartiles (Q1 and Q2).
Six books were released:
– Arnolds Klotiņš – Mūzikas modernisma daudzās sejas
– Dace Bula – Literārās dabkultūras: Regīnas Ezeras zooproza ekokritiskā lasījumā
– Sandis Laime – Latviešu teiku tipu un motīvu rādītājs
– Jana Kukaine – Viscerālā estētika: afekti un feministiskā māksla postsociālismā
– Mudīte Austriņa – Saules Spēles (compiled by Kārlis Vērdiņš)
– Aigars Lielbārdis – Latviešu buramvārdi. Teksti, tradīcijas, konteksti
Other publications by LU LFMI researchers:
– Ivande Kaija – Es stāstu visu (compiled and annotated by Gundega Grīnuma)
– Liisa Steinby, Benedikts Kalnačs, Mikhail Oshukov, Viola Parente-Čapková (eds.) – The Politics of Literary History
New challenges ahead:
– LU LFMI will implement four new fundamental and applied research projects.
– As of 2025, Digne Ūdre-Lielbārde will take over the leadership of the Latviešu folkloras krātuve, succeeding Rita Grīnvalde, who has skillfully led the archive for the past 11 years.
– Sanita Reinsone has become an Associate Tenure Professor at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Latvia.
– Toms Ķencis has been appointed Vice Dean for Research at the same faculty.
We offer our gratitude for decades of dedicated service and excellent research to those who are concluding their active careers at LU LFMI this year – Elga Melne, Arnolds Laimonis Klotiņš, Ieva Kalniņa, and Gundega Grīnuma.
We hope 2025 will also be rich in inspiring discoveries and scientific achievements! May the new year bring you inspiration and success!