Baltic culture and health professionals begin training in a new interdisciplinary training course
On September 23-24, the introductory module of the micro-qualification course "Culture and Health: Managing Cross-Sectoral Initiatives" took place in Kaunas, bringing together 22 participants from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. For the first time in the Baltics, professionals from various fields – cultural workers, healthcare specialists and social sector representatives – come together to learn new skills and build cooperation that will help improve the well-being of society through cultural activities in the future.
Over the course of two days, participants learned about the course objectives, met with program instructors, and gained their first practical experience in interdisciplinary work by participating in lectures, discussions, workshops, and visits to local cultural and health initiatives in Kaunas. Ona Vitkauskaite, coordinator of child employment at the Kaunas Archdiocese Children's Welfare Institute, spoke about the creative activities for children implemented by the institute, which are based on an understanding of trauma. Choreographer Mantas Stabačinskas led a movement class designed for people with Parkinson's disease and other chronic conditions. Kaunas City Council representatives Gerda Kuzmarskiene and Gabriele Domkute shared their experience of implementing the Lithuanian state program "Social Prescription," which allows seniors to receive referrals to various socialization events to improve their well-being, including cultural and artistic events. Meanwhile, Daina Kamarauskiene, director of the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, highlighted the changes that have been initiated at the museum through participation in the "Museums for People's Well-being" program.
The course participants, representing both the cultural and health sectors, expressed appreciation for the introductory lectures and the opportunity to get to know their fellow participants.
“It was truly fascinating! I’m a health specialist, and after just two days I can already see many ways in which culture can contribute to improving health, especially in the field of mental well-being. I’ve already gained valuable contacts, new perspectives, and I’m excited about what lies ahead. And I’m very happy to get to know Kaunas, as I had never been here before,” says art therapist Epp Sussen from Estonia.
“My first impression – this course has brought together professionals with impressive experience. Second – my belief in the need for such interdisciplinary practice has been reinforced. Third – for me personally, as an artist, it is important to receive confirmation that art aimed at improving health and involving amateurs should not be considered a ‘lesser’ art form,” said performing arts curator Katrīna Dūka from Latvia.
The interdisciplinary training course was developed by a consortium of four Baltic universities – the Latvian Academy of Culture, Riga Stradiņš University, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences – in collaboration with the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture. The course content is based on Nordic experience, while being adapted to the context and needs of the Baltic countries.
The training course will continue until June 2026, including online learning of theoretical modules and the implementation of a practical microproject in the participants’ home countries. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a micro-qualification (10 ECTS), becoming the first specialists in the Baltic region trained in the field of culture and health.
This programme was developed within the framework of the Erasmus+ project ''Inclusive Wellbeing Through Arts and Culture in the Baltics'' (WITAC). This strategic partnership project aims to create and test a new cross-sectoral collaboration model between culture and health within higher education institutions in the Baltic states, strengthening their role in building an inclusive and equitable society.
Additional information:
Ilona Asare
Head of the LKA Lifelong Learning Center
Tel.26011102. Ilona.Asare@lka.edu.lv
