On April 15, 2025, the latest workshop of the case study “The Other in Art and Life” took place at the Rothko Museum and was envisaged for young students from Daugavpils schools. The event was organized as part of the Horizon Europe program’s project “The Cultural Literacies’ Value in Europe” (CLiViE) to develop young people’s cultural awareness, creative self-expression, and critical thinking skills. The participants included students from the Daugavpils Design and Art High School Saules School (a competence centre for arts education), Daugavpils State Gymnasium, Daugavpils Science Secondary School, and Daugavpils Secondary School-Lyceum of Technology.

In the first part of the workshop, the Exhibition and exposition curator Tatjana Černova introduced the young participants to the work of a curator, as well as the knowledge and skills required to perform it successfully. The youth were surprised by how diverse the curator’s work is – a curator not only develops the concept of exhibition, conducts research, selects exhibits, and organizes their placement in the space, but also collaborates with artists, designers, and institutions, prepares informational materials, communicates with visitors and the media, drafts contracts, and arranges the transportation of artworks. After the lecture, the participants enthusiastically tried out one of the curator’s many tasks by providing an analytically emotional commentary on selected artworks. Tatjana Černova’s presentation inspired several of the young students to consider this profession as a potential career path.

In the second part of the workshop, under the guidance of Mairita Folkmane, the education programme curator at the Rothko Museum, the young students created their own artworks using an individual graphic art technique, reflecting their most vivid recent experiences. Stepping into the roles of experienced artists, they titled and signed their works, thus preparing them for an exhibition that will be displayed during the Night of Museum 2025.

To evaluate the effectiveness of art-based education and determine its benefits and economic impact, the Horizon Europe project “The Cultural Literacies’ Value in Europe” includes implementing four case studies. Within these projects, researchers from Daugavpils University will collaborate with both formal and non-formal educational institutions and consult with the project’s official partners from European universities and cultural institutions. The cooperation with the cultural industry adds significant value to the project, while the involvement of children and young people in its activities will enhance their cultural literacy, personal development, and positive participation in society. Additionally, the project will promote tolerance, equality, and inclusion within both the Latvian and European cultural space.

Project homepage: https://www.clivieproject.eu

The project is supported by the European Union’s “Horizon Europe” Research and Innovation programme under the grant agreement No. 101132285.

Further information:
Associate Professor and Senior Researcher at Daugavpils University Alīna Romanovska
alina.romanovska@du.lv

Photos:
Margarita Abarasa
Mairita Folkmane
Alīna Romanovska