As part of the Horizon Europe project Cultural Literacies’ Value in Europe (CLiViE), Daugavpils University and the Rothko Museum in Latvia conducted a case study in 2025 titled “The Other in Art and Life”.

Young people from schools in Daugavpils took part in creative and educational activities led by museum experts and university researchers.

Five interactive workshops were held over a period of five months. Participants got a behind-the-scenes look at how a museum works, learned about the role of a curator, and connected Rothko’s life story to his artistic practice. They engaged in hands-on creative tasks, developed artistic skills, and gained real-life experience in arts-based learning.

As the project activity came to a close, the young participants reflected on their journey. They shared that, beyond deepening their understanding of art and developing their creative skills, the experience helped them build new relationships, learn how to collaborate with unfamiliar people, and feel more confident presenting themselves in front of unknown audiences.

The insights gathered from this case study will help researchers explore how cultural literacy through art education can foster social cohesion. By applying the Theory of Change (ToC) and Social Return on Investment (SROI) methods, the project aims to highlight the long-term value of arts-based education.

A short insight into the activities and the youngsters’ emotions can be seen in the video.

Further information:
Project team lead at Daugavpils University:
Associate Professor and Lead Researcher Alīna Romanovska
alina.romanovska@du.lv