Discover the diversity of Latvia

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Over the course of history, four main regions have emerged in Latvia: Courland (Kurzeme), Livonia (Vidzeme), Semgallen (Zemgale) and Letgallen (Latgale). The regional differences can be observed in the nature and architecture as well as in the customs and everyday culture of their inhabitants.

During this year's summer school, each themed week will be dedicated to a specific region of Latvia.

We will also get to know the current trends in the Latvian theatre, literature and art scene.

  • Week 1, 08.07.2024-14.07.2024

    Topic of the week: Playback theatre

    Playback theatre is a form of interactive theatre in which stories from the audience are staged directly by the actors. It was developed in the 1970s by Jonathan Fox. Playback theatre is about communication, empathy and spontaneity, the same qualities required for language learning.

    Topic of the week: Letgallen area

    Letgallen is a historical region in the east of Latvia, closest to Russia and furthest from Riga. It is the only region in Latvia where there are villages. Latgalian is spoken here. In 1561, the Latgale region was ceded to Lithuania and from 1569 it was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which resulted in the victory of the Counter-Reformation in the region and the consolidation of Catholicism for the local population. There are still settlements of Russian Old Believers in Letgale today.

    Date Time Activity Meeting point
    08.07.2024 - 10.07.2024 14:00-17:00 Playback theatre workshop with Maria Bambulaka, part 1 Brīvības iela 70
    08.07.2024 - 10.07.2024 14:00-17:00 Playback theatre workshop with Maria Bambulaka, part 2 Brīvības iela 70
    08.07.2024 17:30-20.00 Guided tour of Moscachka: the Moscow suburbs, group 1 Brīvības iela 70
    09.07.2024 17:30-20.00 Guided tour of Moscachka: the Moscow suburbs, group 2 Brīvības iela 70
    10.07.2024 14:00-17:00 Playback theatre workshop with Maria Bambulaka, part 3 Brīvības iela 70
    10.07.2024 18:00 - 20:00 Playback theatre performance Brīvības iela 70
    11.07.2024 10:00-17:00 Day trip to the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum Gertrudes iela 54
    12.07.2024 14:00-17:00 Russian today: Round table and workshop with SRF's Russia correspondent in Moscow Calum MacKenzie Brīvības iela 70
  • Week 2, 15.07.2024-21.07.2024

    Topic of the week: Russian-language literature in Latvia

    One of the most important phenomena in Latvian literary life is the "Text Group Orbita". It is an association of Latvian poets and multimedia artists. Its most important representatives include Semjon Hanin (Aleksandrs Zapdas ols), Arturs Punte, Vladimir Svetlovs and Sergejs Timofeevs. The project was founded in 1999. Orbita focuses on the synthesis and interaction of text, sound and image. In summer 2024, to mark the group's 25th anniversary, a major Orbita exhibition entitled "Orbita. Grotto Far From the Sea" will take place.

    Topic of the week: Livonia region (Vidzeme)

    Livonia is a historical region in the central and northern part of Latvia, which also includes Riga; from 1629 to 1710 it was part of the Swedish province of Livonia.

    Date Time Activity Meeting point
    16.07.2024 17:00-19:00 Kipsala island tour Konditoreja "Sala", Balasta dambis 12
    17.07.2024 9:00-19:00 Day trip to Ligatne, a town founded around a paper mill. Gertrudes iela 54
    18.07.2024 17:00-19:00 Visit to the Orbita exhibition Art center Zuzeum, Lāčplēša iela 101
    19.07.2024 18:00-20:00 Meeting with Semjon Hanin (Aleksandrs Zapols) Bar 1983, Vagonu iela 21
    20.07.2024 Ab 12:30 Foxtrail and party Brīvības iela 70
  • Week 3, 22.07.2024-28.07.2024

    Topic of the week: Modern literature in Latvia

    In 2013, Jānis Jovān's novel Jelgava-94 was published in Latvia, which gained a cult status, won many prizes (including the European Union Prize for Literature) and was translated into many languages. Set in the quiet provincial town of Jelgava in 1994, the novel's protagonist is teenager Jānis, the best student in his class, who is going through the stages of growing up. The novel was made into a film in Latvia in 2019.

    Topic of the week: Semgallen area

    Semgallen is a historical region in the south of Latvia, bordering Lithuania

    Date Time Activity Meeting point
    23.07.2024 17.00-21.00 Prof. Dr Anastasia de La Fortelle: Lecture on the novel "Jelgava-94" followed by the film "Jelgava-94" Brīvības iela 70
    24.07.2024 17:30-19:30 Tour of Gertrudes-Strasse and the surrounding area Gertrudes iela 54
    25.07.2024 09:00-19:00 Day trip to Elgava with the author of the novel Jānis Jovāns Gertrudes iela 54
  • Week 4, 29.07.2024-04.08.2024

    Topic of the week: Modern art in Latvia

    The performance artist and activist Artyom Loskutov is known as the initiator of the famous "Monstrations": protest actions that drew attention to social problems with humour and mockery. The first "Monstration" took place in Novosibirsk in 2004 as a reaction to the communist legacy of the large 1 May marches. Since then, this unusually creative form of protest has spread to all major Russian cities.

    Artem Loskutov now lives in Riga.

    Topic of the week: Courland region 

    Courland (Kurzeme) is a historical region in western Latvia, which at various times was part of the Livonian Order, the Polish-Lithuanian Union and the Russian Empire

    Date Time Activity Meeting point
    29.07.2024 18:00-20:00 Guided tour through Āgenskalns Gertrudes iela 54
    30.07.2024 17:00-20:00 Art workshop with Artem Loskutov Brīvības iela 70
    01.08.2024 09:00-19:00 Day trip to Kuldiga Gertrudes iela 54