Livonian Culture Days in Ventspils

Friday 11 October

The IX Livonian Culture Days in Ventspils open with the Anita Nikuļceva’s exhibition ‘The forest. The meadow. The sea’. The opening takes place in the main library on 11 October at 5 pm. Following the opening, there is a meeting with the poet Kārlis Vērdiņš. His poetry collection ‘Livonian ballads’ has been translated into Livonian, and Livonian poems are read by the translator and poet Valts Ernštreits.

Saturday 12 October

On Saturday, the event starts with the commemoration of the Livonian poet Jānis Princis by his monument at 9 am. Afterwards, at 10:30 am, there is a popular science reading at the main library. Valts Ernštreits gives an insight into the research carried out by the Livonian Institute of the University of Latvia. Researcher Baiba Šuvcāne talks about the work of the Ventspils branch of the Livonian Union in the 1920s and 1930s and the family of Kārlis Stefenbergs. Musicologist Zigurds Ete focuses on the activities of Dzintars and Dzidra Kļaviņš, long-time leaders of the ensemble ‘Līvlist’ in Ventspils. Patrick O’Rourke, Fenno-Ugria’s project manager, talks about how the Livonian language has influenced the Estonian language. The reading concludes with the opening of the newly-made ‘Catalogue of Livonian place names’.

The Livonian Culture Days finish with a concert at the ‘Latvija’ Concert Hall at 4 pm. The concert starts with a video performance directed by Reinis Boters and made with the theatre group ‘Kvardifons’. The performance tells the story of a Livonian family from its origins to the present day. The second part is the concert ‘Tēriņtš’, directed and produced by Inita Pelse. The concert was created with three choirs: the women’s choir ‘Venda’, mixed choir ‘Līvzeme’ and the Estonian Pärnu Men’s Choir. The concert also features a special performance by youth from the ‘Mierlinkizt’ summer school and the ‘Rāndalist’ ensemble.