On 9 and 10 December, storytelling workshops took place in Kuldīga, Ventspils and Aizpute, marking the closing event of the Nordic-Baltic Storytelling project, launched in 2022.
Workshops were run by Swedish storytellers Mia Vickell and Camilla Ek from Sagobygden (the Museum of Legends) in Sweden, which is listed on the UNESCO’s register of good examples on the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. The events gathered youngsters, young people with special needs and other storytelling enthusiasts.
Mia, with her background in theatre and experience working with people with special needs, and Camilla, a storyteller-pedagogue and preschool teacher, both believe in the magic of storytelling and emphasise its importance:
“If you take the time to listen to someone, there will be magical moments”.
The project aims to foster creativity and storytelling skills through engaging workshops. First set of workshops offered participants the opportunity to explore fundamental story structures in a fun and supportive environment, encouraging them to practise bringing stories to life. The second set of workshops focused on refining these skills, with participants collaborating in pairs to explore development techniques and shape their unique narratives. Additionally, an evening community gathering was hosted by Ina Celitāne, a storyteller from Kuldīga, along with Camilla and Mia. This event brought the local community together through the power of storytelling, uniting friends, neighbours and newcomers for an inspiring evening filled with heartfelt stories. As Camilla fittingly expressed, “We are all storytellers”.
The participants included professionals and enthusiasts who incorporate storytelling into their daily work and were eager to share experiences and network with colleagues from Sweden and Latvia.
Most events, including workshop at the day care centre Tilts and at the Community house, took place in the historic old town of Kuldīga, recognised in 2023 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and emerging as a storytelling resource centre in Latvia. Other locations – daycare centre Cimdiņš and International Writers’ and Translators’ House in Ventspils, as well as the residency and workshop centre Serde and library in Aizpute.
Workshops and meetings were organised by KULDURUM – network of people passionate for storytelling and traditional singing – in cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia.
