Latvian Academy of Culture Researchers Participate in the State Research Programme “Letonika for the Development of a Latvian and European Society”
The Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) will participate in the implementation of two projects within the State Research Programme “Letonika for the Development of a Latvian and European Society” (SRP “Letonika”). The objective of the State Research Programme administered by the Ministry of Education and Science is to develop scientifically grounded knowledge and innovative solutions for the advancement of Latvian identity, language, culture, and society, while strengthening Latvia’s resilience in contemporary geopolitical contexts.
In cooperation with the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia (ILFA UL) (lead partner) and the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Latvia, LAC will implement the project “Latvian Identity and Knowledge Strategies as Resources for Societal Resilience (NAMS)”. In addition, in cooperation with ILFA UL (lead partner), the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Latvia, the National Library of Latvia, and the Latvian National Museum of Literature and Music, LAC will participate in the project “Latvian Literature as Belonging: Personalities, Poetics, and the Public Sphere (LITBEL)”.
The NAMS project examines how Latvian identity functions as a resource for societal resilience under conditions of geopolitical uncertainty. The project links Latvian identity and cultural heritage with national security, analysing how cultural communities can act as adaptive infrastructures and proactive agents in times of crisis. Identity is approached not as a fixed category, but as a historically layered and multifaceted social and cultural phenomenon. The project employs a range of methodological approaches, including archival research, fieldwork in collaboration with heritage communities, analysis of identity practices, and a public opinion survey. The expected outcomes include scholarly publications, datasets, and practical recommendations intended for both policymakers and the wider public. LAC is represented in the NAMS project by leading researchers of the Institute of Arts and Cultural Studies, Rūta Muktupāvela, Anda Laķe, and Ieva Vītola, with students also involved in the project’s implementation. LAC is responsible for two work packages: “Resilience of Heritage Communities in the Context of National Security” and “A Nationally Representative Social Survey on the Significance of Latvian Identity”.
Within the LITBEL project, researchers focus on Latvian literature as a cultural and societal resource, analysing literary poetics, the role of the writer’s personality, canon formation processes, and the place of literature in digital and public spaces. The project includes a large-scale national survey on reading habits, studies of diaspora libraries, community-based reading initiatives, and publishing practices, as well as workshops and hackathons aimed at developing guidelines for the responsible use of digital and artificial intelligence tools in literary creation. Project outputs include scholarly publications, among them the Handbook of Latvian Literature, the development of digital resources, and public engagement through educational and cultural activities.
Special attention is given to the impact of digital environments on the literary ecosystem within the work package “Digital Environments and the Literary Ecosystem”, led by researcher Elīna Vikmane from the Institute of Arts and Cultural Studies at LAC in cooperation with researchers from ILFA UL and the National Library of Latvia. The work package also involves research assistant and doctoral candidate Ance Kristāla and includes biographical interviews with writers on their digital and AI-related practices, mapping of creative tools and workflows, survey implementation, and the development of analytical reports and good-practice guidelines. Students and early-career researchers will also be involved, strengthening future research capacity in Latvian literary and cultural studies.
The SRP “Letonika” is a significant national-level research instrument that brings together researchers from various disciplines, early-career scholars, and students, ensuring a high-quality and multidimensional approach to research on Latvian language, culture, and identity. The programme is oriented towards the development of democratic knowledge and the strengthening of societal resilience in both national and international contexts. State budget funding for the programme is provided for the period from 2025 to 2028.