Creative Industries Up Close: Students Explore Diverse Enterprises During Learning Week
From 26 to 30 May, the Latvian Academy of Culture, together with partner universities from Lithuania, Portugal, Poland, and Spain within the European University Alliance ACE2-EU, will host an international learning week titled “Current Trends and the Future of the Creative Industries”, during which students will explore the dynamics of the creative industries and their diverse development opportunities. As part of the programme, students will have the opportunity to visit creative industry enterprises such as “Āgenskalns Market”, film studio “Locomotive”, “Company NA” and “Printful Latvia”.
Āgenskalns Market is a space where the traditional role of a market merges with a cultural event platform. Āgenskalns Market serves as a diverse and open cultural space that brings together local residents and city visitors, fosters sustainable practices, and encourages collaboration among various initiatives in the fields of culture, education, and entrepreneurship. The market regularly hosts thematic events that highlight socially important topics and showcase local producers. Notably, Āgenskalns Market has social enterprise status, creating a positive social impact within the local community. For students, this visit will offer a chance to experience the market’s daily operations firsthand, meet its representatives and local producers, and gain deeper insight into the market’s diverse activities.
Students will have the opportunity to visit Vagonu Street 16 in Riga, where under one roof operate the film production company "Studio Locomotive", the film equipment rental service "BBrental", and the post-production company "BBposthouse". "S Studio Locomotive" has been operating since 1995 and is one of the oldest film studios in the Baltic States. It produces feature films, documentaries, and animated films, as well as television films, and is also involved in film restoration. Meanwhile, the company "BBrental" offers professional filming equipment rental for projects of various scales. For over 25 years, it has provided cameras, lighting, and other technical equipment for many film projects in the Baltics and elsewhere in the world. "BBposthouse" is an audiovisual post-production studio that offers a full range of services – from editing and color correction to sound design and visual effects. The studio collaborates with both local and international projects. The "BBposthouse" team has completed post-production for many Latvia’s feature films, including the award-winning animated film "Flow" (2024). Students will have the chance to experience the filmmaking process firsthand by meeting with industry professionals and gaining a deeper understanding of how an idea evolves into a film and how it transitions from the film set to audiences on the big screen.
“Company NA" specializes in the development of stage lighting, technical solutions, and visual design for events of various scales. The company has extensive experience in providing technical support for a wide range of events, including music, theatre, and film award ceremonies. In addition to technical solutions, the company also creates conceptual event designs from idea to full implementation. Additionally, lighting equipment produced by "Company NA" is used in world-class concert shows, including those of Rammstein, Muse, and Beyoncé. Students will have the opportunity to explore the company’s production facilities, learn about the manufacturing processes, and meet industry professionals to gain an in-depth understanding of how creative ideas are transformed into innovative, visually impressive technical solutions.
“Printful Latvia” specializes in print-on-demand services for e-commerce businesses, helping people turn their creative ideas into successful brands. Having started as a small online business in a living room, the company has grown into a global industry player with production facilities in multiple countries. It is also Latvia’s first "unicorn" – a company with a market valuation exceeding one billion US dollars.
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The study programme is closely linked to the activities of the Societal Partnerships and Cultural Engagement Centre (SPACE Centre), one of the main operational directions of the ACE²-EU alliance, coordinated by LAC. Its aim is to strengthen the connection between higher education and society by fostering a European identity and cultural sustainability. For more information about the ACE²-EU alliance and planned activities, visit: https://www.ace2eu.eu/
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 101177596. The ACE²-EUproject is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia.