From 5 to 9 October, the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) in Riga is hosting the ACE²-EU European University Alliance microlearning programme “Taste of Culture: Cultural Heritage in Transition”, bringing together students and academic staff from ACE²-EU partner universities to explore food-related cultural heritage and its role in a changing urban environment. The programme has been developed and is led by LAC lecturer and researcher Lolita Ozoliņa, whose research interests include cultural heritage, place identity and branding, and Ieva Vītola, leading researcher at the LAC Institute of Arts and Cultural Studies and a researcher of traditional culture and intangible cultural heritage. The programme has brought 33 students from nine ACE²-EU partner universities to Riga, representing Austria, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, North Macedonia and Latvia.
At the heart of the week-long programme is gastronomic cultural heritage and its place in contemporary society and the economy. Students will explore how food traditions, local markets and gastronomic heritage can become resources for creating modern, vibrant urban environments that are meaningful to local communities. Particular attention will be paid to how historical gastronomic traditions can be adapted to contemporary economic and market realities and transformed into competitive offerings with international potential. Throughout the week, students will take part in lectures, practical sessions, group work and field research, with a particular focus on Riga’s markets and their future development.
The programme begins with an introduction to Latvian food culture and culinary heritage. On the first day, food culture researcher and gastronomy ambassador Astra Spalvēna will deliver the lecture “What Makes Latvian Food Latvian? Tradition, Globalisation and Culinary Heritage”, followed by the programme’s first field visit to Vidzeme Market. In the following days, students will explore place-making and branding, idea development, the storytelling potential of gastronomic heritage, and approaches to slow tourism. Food and travel content creator Madara Martinsone (@madara.martini), tourism expert and LAC guest lecturer Edgars Ražinskis, as well as other industry professionals, will share their experience with the participants.
The practical part of the programme will introduce students to different examples of food culture and entrepreneurship in Riga and beyond. Participants will visit Vidzeme Market and Āgenskalns Market, discover the LAUX rural community and creative farming project in Dikļi, and explore a contemporary interpretation of traditional Latvian cuisine and entrepreneurship at the folk club “Ala”.
The entire week is designed as an intensive international collaborative learning process, combining theoretical knowledge with urban exploration and hands-on idea development. Working in international teams, students will develop their own proposals and present them at the conclusion of the programme on Friday, 9 October, during a joint idea-pitching session, receiving mentoring and feedback from experts.
“Taste of Culture: Cultural Heritage in Transition” is part of the international microlearning opportunities jointly developed by the ACE²-EU Alliance. These initiatives aim to foster the involvement of students, academic staff and local partners from different countries by providing practical, interdisciplinary learning experiences in an international environment.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Project No. 101177596.
