On September 26, 2026, the workshop series for young people titled “Daugavpils in Motion – Our City, Our Story” was launched as part of the Horizon Europe project “Promoting Understanding and Lifelong learning Successful Education through the ARTs and culture” (PULSE-ART), featuring a range of creative and collaborative activities. The first two sessions – “Dawn” (Ausma) and “Light” (Gaisma) – brought together nearly 30 young people from Daugavpils State Gymnasium, Daugavpils State City Secondary School, Daugavpils Iespēju Secondary School, Daugavpils Saskaņa Basic School, Daugavpils Technology Secondary School-Lyceum, Daugavpils University, the University of Latvia, and the Latvian Academy of Culture. Representatives of PULSE-ART partner organisations – the Daugavpils City Municipality institution “Vienības Nams” and the civil society organisations “Cita Daugavpils,” “Divruna,” and “Kultūras Artefakts,” as well as VML “Robeža” – also participated in the event, highlighting the importance of cooperation and community in youth participation and co-creation.

Prior to the implementation of the case study “Dance,” young people’s views on the key prerequisites for co-creating a dance narrative were explored. Their responses most frequently highlighted the importance of collaboration, active participation, and creative expression. Concepts such as “people”, “belonging”, “unity”, “cohesion”, and “communication” were among the most frequently mentioned, underscoring the significance of community and social relationships. Terms such as “art,” “history”, and “place” linked the co-creation process to the identity and cultural landscape of Daugavpils and Latvia. The interplay between dance and music was also emphasised, highlighting the role of artistic expression and emotion in shaping the narrative. At the same time, concepts such as “diversity”, “respect”, “listening”, “patience”, “motivation” and “initiative” indicate that young people associate creative collaboration not only with generating ideas, but also with democratic values, respectful and supportive relationships, and openness. Overall, the participants’ responses suggest that they understand participation as a process in which Cultural Awareness and Expression Competence develops through interaction with others and shared creative experiences.

The sessions were led by Jeļena Orbidāne, leader of “Eféra Dance Studio,” and Marita Irbe, head of the DU student dance ensemble “Laima.” Musical accompaniment was provided by Gļebs Beļajevs, a pianist and Assistant Professor at the DU Department of Arts.

Thanks to the cultural and historical context provided by the civil society organisations VLK “Robeža” and “Divruna,” the young people expanded their knowledge of the city’s origins and its development and everyday life during the Middle Ages, the significance of the War of Independence for Daugavpils’s development, as well as traditions from the period of independent Latvia, including the Latgale Song Festival in Daugavpils.

By listening to historian PhD Maija Grizāne and exploring archival materials, the young people not only deepened their understanding of the city’s past but also gained inspiration for co-creation. An arts-based educational approach, using dance and music and examining historical processes from an interdisciplinary perspective, was employed as a means of exploring the city’s cultural heritage and identity while simultaneously fostering young people’s creative self-expression and participation.

Technical and organisational support for the event was provided by SIA “13. stāvs.”

The next two sessions – “Darkness” and “Rebirth” – will take place on October 10, 2026, while the outcome of the co-creation process will be presented at a concert on October 31, 2026.

Additional information on the project:
PULSE-ART project manager in Latvia
DU IHSS leading researcher Ilze Kačāne
e-mail: ilze.kacane@du.lv

DU IHSS leading researcher Oksana Kovzele
e-mail: oksana.kovzele@du.lv

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme under the Grant Agreement no 101178988.