Supporting creativity,activity & entrepreneurship of inhabitants from Daugavpils-Zarasai regions’ deprived territories,by using sociocultural measures

Projekts piedāvās risinājumus, lai padarītu cilvēkus no attālām pierobežas teritorijām Zarasu-Daugavpils reģionos aktīvākus, radošākus, uzņēmīgākus un sociāli aktīvākus. Projekta laikā tiks uzlaboti mazaktīvo teritoriju iedzīvotāju dzīves apstākļi, un viņi kļūs vairāk apmierināti ar savu dzīvesvietu. Projekts organizēs kultūras pasākumus un transportu Zarasu rajona un Daugavpils novada mazaktīvo teritoriju iedzīvotājiem, lai viņiem būtu iespēja piedalīties pasākumos, kas norisinās tālu no dzīvesvietas. Lai radītu apstākļus radošai izglītībai, kultūras iestādes saņems jaunu aprīkojumu. Zarasu kultūras centra iekšpagalmā tiks izvietoti āra lietussargi, mēbeles, LED spuldzes un skaņu tehnika, kā arī iegādāta mobilā skatuve. Daugavpils novada kultūras centrs “Vārpa” saņems jaunu projektoru. Skrindu dzimtas muzeja telpās tiks izveidota kulinārā telpa, kas tiks aprīkota ar sadzīves tehniku, mēbelēm un virtuves inventāru kulinārajām darbnīcām. Naujenes novadpētniecības muzejs saņems filcēšanas darba galdu, Naujenes kultūras centrā piedāvās apgūt tradicionālās lietuviešu - latviešu amatniecības prasmes, organizējot aušanas darbnīcas, projekts piedavāsradošās meistarklases tautas dejās, kokapstrādē, kā arī populārās mākslas laboratorijas un meistarklases iepakojuma un reklāmas dizainā, fotogrāfijā un skaņu režijā un citas noderīgas aktivitātes. Kultūras organizācijas, pašvaldības darbinieki, mākslinieki un iedzīvotāji piedalīsies pieredzes apmaiņā, lai dalītos ar labāko praksi kā popularizēt savus rokdarbus. Tiks organizētas divas konferences, viena Lietuvā un viena Latvijā, un sagatavota brošūra "Radītu, lai paliktu - radoša pieeja, kā dzīvot nekurienes vidū". Šis projekts parāda, cik svarīga ir radošā pieeja tādām globālām problēmām kā emigrācija, bezdarbs un sociālā atstumtība. "Radītu, lai paliktu" nozīmē, ka radošums var likt šīm problēmām kļūt risināmām un palīdzēt cilvēkiem darboties, radīt, socializēties, uzlabot dzīves apstākļus, iegūt prasmes un kļūt piederīgam vietai, kurā viņi dzīvo

Projektas suteiks naują impulsą skurdžioms Zarasų ir Daugpilio rajonų teritorijoms. Kultūra ir kūrybiškas požiūris padės atrasti sprendimus, kaip skurdžių teritorijų gyventojus paskatinti tapti kūrybiškais, veikliais ir versliais, bei likti savo gimtinėse. Projekto metu bus pagerintos vietos žmonių gyvenimo sąlygos ir jie taps labiau patenkinti savo gyvenamąja aplinka. Projekto metu bus įgyvendintos šios veiklos: 1. Zarasų ir Daugpilio rajonų skurdžių teritorijų gyventojų socializacija, organizuojant kultūrinius renginius ir suteikiant transportą atvykti į renginius bei projekto veiklas, organizuojamas už šių teritorijų ribų. 2. Sąlygų sudarymas kūrybingam mokymuisi ir skurdžių bendruomenių narių potencialui atskleisti, atnaujinant ir įrengiant erdves, tokias kaip Zarasų kultūros centro vidinis kiemas (kilnojami lauko skėčiai, kilnojami lauko baldai, sėdmaišiai, ormaišiai, kilnojamas LED apšvietimas ir garso aparatūra), įsigyjant kilnojamą sceną skurdžių teritorijų lauko renginiams, modernizuojant Daugpilio regioninio kultūros centro įrangą įsigyjant naują projektorių, rekonstruojant Skrindu šeimos muziejaus patalpas ir įrengiant kulinarinį kambarį (buitinė technika, baldai ir virtuvės reikmenys kulinariniams užsiėmimams), įsigyjant vėlimo stalą Naujenes krašto istoriniam muziejui, mokant Lietuvos ir Latvijos tradicinių amatų (keramikos, audimo, vytelių pynimo, medžio darbų, vėlimo), tradicinių šokių, organizuojant kūrybinę laboratoriją ir populiariųjų menų mokymus (fotografija, įpakavimo ir reklamos dizainas, DJ, scenos aptarnavimas). 3. Keitimasis kultūrinių organizacijų, valdžios atstovų, startuolių įkūrėjų, menininkų ir amatininkų, bendruomenių narių patirtimi apie tai, kaip kurti ir tinkamai parduoti savo kūrybą ir žinias, prezentuoti save ir savo kraštą, kaip kultūros organizacijos gali prisidėti prie socialinių bei ekonominių problemų sprendimo pasienio teritorijoje. Įvyks dvi konferencijos, viena Lietuvoje, kita Latvijoje, ir bus leidžiamas bukletas „Kurk, kad išliktum – kūrybiškas požiūris į išgyvenimą atskirtose teritorijose“.

The project will give new impulse to deprived territories of Zarasai and Daugavpils regions. Culture and creative approach will create solutions to make people from deprived territories in Zarasai-Daugavpils regions more active, creative, more business and socially oriented and ultimately to change their mind about leaving. During the project living conditions of inhabitants of deprived territories will be improved and they will become more satisfied with area they live. During the project following activities will be organized: 1. Socializing people from deprived territories of Zarasai and Daugavpils regions via organizing cultural events, providing transportation to take part in activities taking place away from the project territory. 2. Creating conditions for creative education and unlocking potential of members of deprived communities via upgrading and equipping social spaces such as Zarasai cultural centre’s inner yard (with outdoor umbrellas, furniture, bean bags, air bunks, LED lamps and sound equipment), purchasing of the portable stage for outdoor events in deprived territories, modernization of the technologies of Daugavpils Region Cultural Center "Vārpa" with purchasing a new projector, reconstruction of the Skrindu family museum premises and building the culinary room, improving it with household appliances, furniture and kitchen equipment for culinary workshops, purchasing of felting tables in Naujene Local History Museum, teaching Lithuanian – Latvian traditional crafts such as ceramics, weaving, wicker weaving, woodworking and felting, organizing a lab and workshops of popular arts (photography, packaging and advertising design, DJ’ing, stage service), traditional dances. 3. Experience exchange of cultural organizations, government officials, start-up’s, artists and people to share the best practices regarding creative approaches to sell artwork and know-how how cultural organizations can contribute in decreasing level of emigration and to create better economic and social conditions in the area. Two conferences will be organized: one in Latvia and one in Lithuania, brochure “Create to remain – creative approach to living in the middle of nowhere” will be published. This project shows how important creative approach is to the global problems like emigration, unemployment and social exclusion. “Create to remain” means that creativity can try to solve these problems and to help people to act, create, socialize, improve their living conditions, skills and become more satisfied with an area where they live.

Centre of Culture of Zarasai Municipality together with Culture Department of Daugavpils District Municipality carried out a creative and unique project “Create to remain” which gave the new impulse to deprived territories of Zarasai and Daugavpils regions. It is enough to think that emigration is the only way and small villages of mentioned territory will do nothing but disappear. Culture and creative approach gave some solutions to make people from deprived territories in Zarasai-Daugavpils regions more active, creative, more business and socially oriented and to ultimately to change their mind and to stay in the land they belong. During the project living conditions of inhabitants of deprived territories have been improved and they became more satisfied with area they live in. The project lasted for 18 months and following activities were organized: 1. Socializing people from deprived territories of Zarasai and Daugavpils regions via organizing cultural events, providing transportation to take part in activities taking place away from project territory. 2. Creating conditions for creative education and unlocking potential of members of deprived communities via upgrading and equipping social spaces, teaching Lithuanian – Latvian traditional crafts and organizing a lab and workshops of popular arts. 3. Experience exchanging of cultural organizations, government officials, start-up’s, artists and people to share the best practices regarding creative approaches to sell artwork and know-how how cultural organizations can contribute in decreasing level of emigration and create better economic and social conditions in the area. Two conferences were organized: one in Latvia and one in Lithuania, brochure “Create to remain – creative approach to living in the middle of nowhere” was published. This project showed how important creative approach is to the global problems like emigration, unemployment and social exclusion. “Create to remain” means that creativity can try to solve these problems and to help people to act, create, socialize, improve their living conditions, skills and become more satisfied with an area where they live. For more information please check the websites: https://old.zkc.lt/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=50&Itemid=168, https://www.daugavpilsnovads.lv/kultura-kategorija/lv-lt-parrobezu-sadarbibas-projekti/ Project results: During the project 2145 residents of 6 deprived border region territories (Aviliai, Suviekas, Turmantas in Lithuania and Demene, Vabole, Naujene in Latvia) where involved in 7 workshops, two conferences: “How cultural organizations can create better economic and social conditions in deprived area” and “Sales of craft and culture products – step by step”, two creative workshops: “Real product, real advertisement” about subject photography and environment friendly packaging, and 5 events: 3 Family festivals, White tablecloth festival and Nature and Culture days). 378 people took part in workshops, 92 people took part in two conferences, 41 participants participated in creative workshops and 634 participants participated in project events. At least 1000 visitors visited project events. When choosing project workshops’ experts (ceramic, weaving, wicker weaving, photography, DJ, light and sound operators’, culinary and felting) local specialists were preferred. These experts gave participants the skills and real life guidance how to start your own craft or artistic business in rural territories. Residents of all 6 communities’ got to know each other and already after the first conference in Lithuania they started to invite each other to participate not only in project events but also in other events and activities (for example, participants from Turmantas (LT) were asked to be experts in culinary workshops in LV and so on). Free transportation was provided for participants of project’s cultural events as for some participants it was an essential condition when deciding about participation in the project. Level of socialising was so high during some activities that instead of planned two hours of workshops participants were spending four and even six hours (for example in ceramic workshop (LT) there were 20 participants instead of 10 and workshops never lasted less than 3-4 hours instead of planned two. Baltic techno show on air – the gala performance of the workshop for DJs, sound and light operators was organized. It was an experimental light and sound performance in Zarasai region near Laukesa lake using water screen, professional light equipment and artists from Zarasai and Daugavpils, which amazed all the visitors, who came to celebrate the Day of Unity of the Balts. Some memorable moment from the show can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvzF2-E9gYQ Culinary heritage classroom in Vabole was created and equipped. Daugavpils district had no culinary service provider for regional needs and villages had no skills and financial support for this. During the project a space which meets all the sanitary norms was created with all necessary equipment and cosy atmosphere for community to gather, for hostess to cook and use their skills to educate others. Reconstruction works were completed for 112 m2 premises, including electrical installation, heating system repair, water supply, sewerage internal networks, ventilation, fire alarm, external water supply and external drainage. Kitchen furniture and equipment were purchased: necessary dishes, cooker hood, table for workshops, sink, electric boiler, fridge and electric oven. This place serves as a centre of social integration and communication in the village now. It can be used by local hostess and local community, by external experts who can be invited to organize culinary (and other) workshops for locals. Culinary classroom faced such a success that the number of participants in culinary workshops was 185 instead of 10 initially planned. Inner yard in Centre of Culture of Zarasai municipality was created and equipped and has become a favourite place of youth and the main point to gather for all the region’s collectives during various events (planning, eating, chatting, etc.). During the project Centre of Culture of Zarasai municipality has purchased light equipment for outdoor events (wash Led type moving spotlights, spotlights PAR64 and dimer, laptop with light control program, cables and hanging hooks), sound equipment for outdoor events (acoustic sound system, subwoofer speakers, sound control panel and cables), equipment for inner yard (portable, can be used in outdoor events in region – outdoor umbrellas, outdoor furniture, bean bags, LED lamps, set of PRO sound equipment. Portable stage with 30 sets of outdoor furniture has been acquired and is being used for events throughout Zarasai region. Additional equipment was purchased to ensure safety and better quality of events: audio interface, security fence for the portable stage and cable ramp protective cover. Mobile equipment for outside events was essential for Zarasai region because there are less people in villages as well as budget for cultural activities. Purchased portable stage and equipment saves cultural events budget for cultural needs instead of renting expensive stage, light and sound equipment, outside furniture, etc. and cultural workers in Zarasai region’s deprived territories are able to concentrate on cultural part of the events. Colorful brochure “Creative tips how to survive in the middle of nowhere” (300 units) was published with all the useful contacts of project experts, participants, organizations and information about project activities and events. For each participant it is a great memory and useful contacts book and for others it is a creative guide “where to find what” in project area if you want to learn some useful skills or to find best experts of arts and crafts. The brochure can be found here: https://www.zkc.lt/images/stories/pdf/LLI-337%20Create%20to%20remain_brochure.pdf

Project will make people from deprived territories in Zarasai-Daugavpils regions more active, creative, business and socially oriented so they can stay in the land they belong, improve their living conditions and become more satisfied with area they live in. It is expected that at least 6 deprived territories with their communities in Lithuanian and Latvian border region will be directly activated during this project and at least 143 project participants will get new artistic and useful skills, learn traditional crafts, get new knowledges. Project activities will be available for the whole family so exact number of involved households can be counted after the project implementation.