On 25 April, Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM), in Riga met with Agnese Logina, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. The purpose of the meeting was to consolidate the successful cooperation so far, agree on priorities for the next phase of cooperation and outline the direction for the upcoming Nordic-Baltic (NB8) Culture Ministers’ Meeting.
The Minister commended the efforts of the NCM in Latvia and expressed appreciation for over 30 years of collaboration, which has bolstered cultural, democratic, and social inclusion endeavors, along with media development. The Secretary-General praised the increase in the number of applications from Latvian citizens for the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme “Culture”. The Ministry of Culture receives annual reports detailing programme outcomes, funding allocations, and application figures. Additionally, Secretary-General voiced support for expanding cultural collaboration between the Nordic countries and Latvia, advocating for fresh avenues of partnership.
At the meeting, the ZMP Office in Latvia was represented by Stefan Eriksson, Director, Ieva Hermansone, Cultural Advisor, and Anita Miruškina, Communications Advisor. Mr. Eriksson outlined the current initiatives for culture, highlighting the available mobility support for professionals in the field of culture. The support is available to Latvian residents since 2009. He also noted the financial support being granted for local projects fostering community cohesion and media literacy, with a focus on youth initiatives, support for Ukraine, bolstering awareness of democracy, and strengthening democratic values.
In preparation for her attendance at the Nordic-Baltic Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Stockholm on May 3, where the NCM Secretary General was also present, the minister emphasized the importance of discussing the preservation of cultural heritage and bolstering support for Ukraine. The Secretary General encouraged the minister to actively participate in the upcoming high-level gathering, advocating for Riga to host the subsequent meeting at this level, aligning with national priorities.
The meeting of culture ministers in Stockholm is significant for several reasons. It confirms the Nordic commitment to robust cultural collaboration with Latvia and the Baltic States and it will be the first ministerial-level meeting in nearly a decade. This informal session aims to facilitate knowledge exchange, foster experiential sharing, and explore tangible cooperation strategies to safeguard cultural heritage and continuity amidst crises or conflicts. Such knowledge sharing plays a pivotal role in enhancing crisis preparedness and resilience across the region.
Additionally, the visit to Stockholm included meetings between the minister and counterparts from Norway, represented by Minister Lubna Jaffery, and Sweden, represented by Minister Parisa Liljestrand, along with Arna Kristín Einarsdóttir, Director General of the Department of Culture and Media at the Ministry of Culture and Enterprise. Furthermore, the minister was scheduled to meet with representatives from the Latvian Embassy in Sweden.
✔ Click here to read more about the NB8 meeting in Stockholm on 3rd of May.
Photo: Oskars Artūrs Upenieks, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia
