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Description
Liepāja Concert Hall Great Amber, together with partners from Norway and Iceland, will work on the creation of a mobile full-scale interdisciplinary music production for young audiences (aged 12 to 18) with the elements of circus and choreography. The creation process will be based on creative ‘ateliers’ in four regions of Latvia, which will include various artistic experiences, networking, workshops, performances with young professionals and younger audiences. The need for such a project is built on our experience in working with educational programs for young audiences in at our Concert Hall, while there is currently a lack of suitable contemporary artistic content for teenagers outside Rīga, especially in the field of circus or contemporary music. Therefore, Concert Hall Great Amber wishes to create a new production that would incorporate contemporary music and contemporary circus and choreography and allow young people to get educated, discover, and experience the exciting creative process of interdisciplinary art production both here in Liepāja and in other regions of Latvia. Moreover, the project is focused on regional accessibility for children and the increase of practice of various art forms like circus or contemporary music outside the capital. This process will create a meaningful synergy among artists, our audiences, and different art forms, thus promoting audience development and regional engagement. In order to reach a broader audience, there will be a video documentary about the project CirqueMusique to show the hidden parts of creating the interdisciplinary performance.
Summary of project results
The CirqueMusique project was essential to address several critical needs within the cultural and artistic landscape for teenagers in Latvia. The project addressed the issue of inequality in artistic opportunities taking into account geographical and social accecibility to the contemporary art for the teenagers in the regions. They could broaden their artistic experience by active participation in arts and the interdisciplinary approach of the project itself. The project aimed to increase public awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity through the inclusion of contemporary circus and music. By making the arts more accessible and inclusive, the project sought to engage a broader segment of the population, including those who might not typically participate in cultural activities.
During the project, there were four creative ateliers in four regions of Latvia bringing together professional artists and teenagers. Every atelier ended with the small-scale performance and a feedback session. At the end of the project the full-scale performance where created including four new compositions from four Latvian composers presented in Riga Circus. A documentary film was created showing all the cooperation and creative process between teenagers and professional artists. 4 seminars were held on audience development by our Icelandic partner. There was a practical guide edited on audience development fostering youth engagement in arts and culture in rural and regional settings.
Creative ateliers and small scale performances provided teenagers with practical, hands-on experience in various art forms, allowing them to learn directly from professional artists. By hosting ateliers in four different regions, the project ensured that the benefits were distributed geographically, reaching a wider audience and reducing regional disparities in access to arts education. Ending each atelier with a small-scale performance gave teenagers the invaluable experience of performing in front of an audience, boosting their confidence and public speaking skills. Feedback sessions were crucial for learning and improvement, providing participants with constructive criticism and praise from both peers and professionals. The culmination of the project in a full-scale performance showcased the talents from Norway and Latvia and efforts of the result of meaingful connection bewteen teenagers and professionals. The documentary captured the entire process, from the initial ateliers to the final performance, providing a visual and narrative record of the project reaching wider audience. Capacity builduing seminars conducted by the Icelandic partner imparted valuable insights into audience development, emphasizing strategies for engaging youth in the arts. By disseminating the practical guide on audience development the project ensures that the knowledge and strategies developed during CirqueMusique can be applied widely, supporting ongoing efforts to increase youth participation in the arts.
The CirqueMusique project achieved several significant results, both intended and unintended, that contributed to its overall success and impact on the participants and the broader community. Participants developed new artistic skills in contemporary music and circus arts through the hands-on workshops and creative ateliers. Professional artists gained experience in mentoring and collaborating with youth, enriching their own practice and pedagogy. Each atelier concluded with a performance, allowing teenagers to experience the process of preparing and presenting their work to an audience. The culmination of the project was a full-scale interdisciplinary performance at the Riga Circus, featuring four new compositions by Latvian composers. This event showcased the talents and efforts of all participants. Four seminars on audience development, conducted by the Icelandic partner, provided valuable strategies for engaging youth in the arts. The guide serves as a practical resource for cultural organizations, educators, and policymakers, offering strategies and best practices for fostering youth engagement in rural and regional settings. The documentary film documented the entire project, providing a lasting record of the creative process and the cooperation between teenagers and professional artists. This film serves as an inspirational and educational tool for future projects.
The project attracted significant interest and support from local communities in the regions. The successful collaboration with partners from Norway and Iceland strengthened international ties and opened up possibilities for future cross-cultural projects and exchanges. Many participating teenagers reported increased confidence and inspiration as a result of their involvement in the project.
The CirqueMusique project not only achieved its primary objectives of enhancing artistic skills, creating performances, and developing audience engagement but also resulted in broader community involvement, strengthened partnerships, personal development of participants, and increased cultural awareness.
The CirqueMusique project has made a profound and lasting difference for its end beneficiaries by providing teenagers with valuable artistic skills, personal growth opportunities, and enhanced social connections. It has also benefited professional artists through professional development and international exposure, enriched local communities culturally, and empowered cultural organizations with new strategies and networks. The project''s impact will resonate long after its completion, contributing to the ongoing cultural and social development of the regions involved.
As a result of the CirqueMusique project, the situation for teenagers, artists, local communities, and cultural organizations in Latvia has improved as there is an ongoing discussion about the accesibility of contemporary arts to the younger audience. The teenagers had contemporary practices to develop their creativity in a broader way. There is an interest to show the full scale project abroad as a good example of cooperation between teenagers and professionals. With the help of the report there will be also a long term effect which could be evaluated later on the young audience development and engagement in the rural regions. These improvements contribute to a more inclusive, vibrant, and culturally rich environment in Latvia.
The CirqueMusique project is important not only for its immediate benefits but also for its long-term impact on cultural, educational, social, and economic levels. By enhancing artistic skills and experiences, fostering community engagement, building capacity within cultural organizations, and promoting cultural inclusivity and diversity, the project lays a strong foundation for sustained artistic and social development in Latvia. The project''s legacy will continue to inspire and benefit future generations, contributing to a more vibrant, inclusive, and culturally rich society.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral partnership was instrumental in the success of the project, leading to improved knowledge and understanding. It is quite rare to have such level of professionals in Latvia in this field, therefore it is important to have experienced international partners in this project. Partners from Norway and Iceland brought unique expertise and methodologies that significantly enriched the project. The diverse approaches and experiences shared by the donor partners broadened the teenagers'' exposure to different artistic practices and cultural perspectives, enriched their learning experience and encouraged to explore new creative ways how to mix music with circus and vice versa.Norwegian circus artists introduced youngsters with innovative circus and performing arts techniques that were integrated into the workshops and creative ateliers. Their expertise helped in developing a high-quality, interdisciplinary production for teenagers. Icelandic audience development professional provided invaluable insights into engaging and retaining audience interest building capacity for the regional artistic organisations.This exchange of knowledge enhanced the overall quality of the production and provided valuable learning experiences for all involved and created meaningful connections – teenagers got to know how the performance is made with different approaches, meanwhile professionals got to understand what’s best for the youngsters – what they expect from the performance. This synergy improved the teenagers'' performing arts skills and fostered a sense of community and cultural appreciation.There is a shared commitment to integrating the successful methodologies and practices developed during project into long-term strategic goals.There are plans to go on a tour around Latvia and Estonia. This performance will aim to further develop the connection of culture and young people by promoting a performance that is specially made for them about the current topics and problems.