Culture and Identities in Latvia: Heritage and Contemporary Practices

Ministry of Education and Science funding. Project No. 4 of the State research program "Letonica – Latvian history, languages, culture, values", 2014-2017

Lead: Benedikts Kalnačs

Main collaborators: Latvian Academy of Sciences; Faculty of the Humanities, University of Latvia; University of Daugavpils; University of Liepaja

The aims of the project are:

(1) to study Latvian cultural phenomena as forms of identity expression in both historical and contemporary perspective; (2) to evaluate the role personalities play in the formation of cultural identities; (3) to study history of different art forms in Latvia; (4) to study and publish primary sources of intangible cultural heritage (including 2 volumes of Latvian wedding songs for the academic edition of Latvian folksongs). Key words: culture and identities; history of Latvian literature, music and theater; Latvian folksongs; the role of heritage in contemporary culture; current events in literature and art; regional and European context.