This project is funded by the European Union

In October 2020 Daugavpils University launched an international project A living history: cultural and scientific synergy in the border region Zarasai (LT) – Daugavpils (LV)- Vitebsk (BY) for sustainable development. Project identification number: ENI-LLB-1-073. The project will be implemented over 18 months in Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus within the framework of the European Neighbourhood  Development Instrument Programme 2014-2020.

Five partners are involved in the project: Zarasai District Municipality Administration (LT), Zarasai Regional Museum (LT), The Lithuanian Institute of History (LT), Vitebsk Regional Museum of Local History (BY) and Daugavpils University (HF Department of History).

The overall goal of the project is to stimulate the active and sustainable use of cultural heritage in order to increase tourism growth in the Zarasai, Vitebsk and Daugavpils regions; LT-LV-BY cross-border cooperation by developing intercultural dialogue and cooperation in the field of tourism.  To achieve this goal, cultural and historical heritage sites will be adapted for tourism, and mutual activities for the development of cross-border tourism will be launched. In order to preserve cultural and historical monuments and adopt sites for tourism purposes, restoration work will be carried out in Stelmuiža in the Zarasai district as part of the project. An open-air museum with a new exhibition will be created, based on archive materials, which will be identified, processed, translated, researched and adapted for the museum exhibition with the participation of professionals from Daugavpils University.

During the project implementation, discussions on the development of the museum concept, the content and design of exhibition materials, etc., as well as the development of a tourist attraction plan are planned. Each partner will organize “a round table” meeting with museum and tourism industry experts. Daugavpils University will also be involved in informing the public, state and local government institutions about cultural and historical sites in the region and their potential for attracting tourists.

Within the framework of the project, professionals from Daugavpils University will organize and lead a seminar on the possibilities of using modern IT tools and design in museums, with the aim of creating new exhibitions in line with contemporary requirements that are appealing to representatives of different age groups.

The total cost of the project is EUR 648,959.52, 90% of which is financed by the European Neighbourhood Instrument and 10% is co-financed by the project partners. The planned funding for Daugavpils University for the implementation of the delegated activities is EUR 30,684.29, including EUR 27,615.86 from the European Neighbourhood Instrument and EUR 3,068.43 co-financed by Daugavpils University from the state budget.

This publication has been produced with the financial support of the European Union. Daugavpils University is solely responsible for the content of this publication, which cannot be used in any way to reflect the views of the European Union.

Information about the project activities is available on the Daugavpils University website and the programme website.

Project implementation period: 01.10.2020 – 31.03.2022

Coordinator – Ilze Šenberga