Project Launched: Bridging the Cultural Divide: Strategies for Rural Families to Curate Digital Cultural Consumption for Youth
As of 1 July 2025, researcher Līga Vinogradova from the Latvian Academy of Culture’s Institute of arts and cultural studies has commenced the postdoctoral research project “Bridging the Cultural Divide: Strategies for Rural Families to Curate Digital Cultural Consumption for Youth” (1.1.1.9/LZP/1/24/033).
The aim of the study is to explore how strategies for shaping digital cultural consumption are developed within rural families and to identify effective approaches for fostering meaningful youth participation in digital culture. The research focuses on young people as both the current and future cultural audience, analysing the formation of their cultural consumption habits within the family system. Families and parents are often the first to consciously or unconsciously shape children’s and adolescents’ understanding of culture – including what happens in the digital space.
The research addresses the unequal conditions that rural families face in accessing various cultural activities. It will examine how the digital divide manifests in rural cultural consumption and how families balance digital and in-person content to enrich young people’s cultural experiences. The study will seek answers to whether – and how – it is possible to promote high-quality digital cultural consumption within the family today. To achieve this, innovative research methods will be used, including mobile ethnography.
The project is implemented under the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027, Specific Objective 1.1.1 “Strengthening research and innovation capacity and introducing advanced technologies in the overall R&I system”, Measure 1.1.1.9 “Postdoctoral Research”. This measure aims to develop the skills of early-career researchers and increase scientific capacity by providing opportunities for starting a career in scientific institutions and enterprises, while also fostering research competence development, human resource renewal, and growth in the number of qualified specialists.
The total project funding amounts to EUR 184,140.00 (including EUR 156,519.00 from the European Regional Development Fund and EUR 18,414.00 from the state budget).
The project will run from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028. More information on the project and its updates: https://www.lka.edu.lv/en/research/research-projects/post-doctoral-research-aid/bridging-cultural-divide-strategies-rural-families-curate-digita/
Photo: Ministry of Culture
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