Cultural Heritage Governance and Communication

Programme structure consists of three thematic blocks -cultural heritage and its protection, governance, communication and interpretation, as well as academic studycourses – internship, Master’s thesis, research design.

✔ The heritage part includes such study courses as:Introduction to cultural heritage studies, Cultural heritage law and ethics, Types of cultural heritage and their preservation, cultural and intercultural studies, Sustainability of cultural heritage.

✔ The communication and interpretation part includes such study courses as: Interpretation of cultural heritage, Cultural heritage as a tourism resource, Exposition as a tool for interpretation and communication of cultural heritage, Creative thinking methods, Integrated communication, Pedagogical aspects of cultural heritage communication.

✔ The governance part includes such study courses as:  Memory institutions, their work and management, Cooperation for heritage governance in the Baltic region, Fundraising, Digitization of cultural heritage, Entrepreneurship in creative and cultural industries, Strategic management.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor degree or comparable education. Education documents must be accompanied by English translations of all certificates and transcripts along with certification of the documents authenticity;

If English is not your native language, all students are required to provide a proof of English language knowledge. 

Foreign students will be asked to record a video interview.

ADMISSION

Deadlines for Autumn 2022

03.01.2022. - 20.03.2022: Application deadline for applicants from non EU countries

03.01.2022. - 8.07.2022: Application deadline for applicants from EU, EEE + candidate countries 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Application form and application documents must be submitted to e-mail: uznemsana@lka.edu.lv. All documents must be submitted in English:

✔ a completed application form;

✔ a copy of passport or identity card;

✔ a copy of the BA (undergraduate) diploma together with the academic transcript of records. Education documents must be accompanied by English translations of all certificates and transcripts with approval of the documents authenticity

✔ proof of English certificate or other acceptable information, according to the set language requirements by LAC [1]

✔ applicant’s Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing educational background and professional experience in culture and arts, if applicable. English proficiency must be indicated

✔ a letter of motivation (3000-5000 characters in English) [2]

After receiving all required documents LAC sends those to ENIC/NARIC Center for evaluation. The ENIC/NARIC Center evaluates foreign qualifications. This process may take time up to 1 month. Several cases may take longer.

You will be required to bring the original documents when you got to the Academy.

APPLICATION FEE

Application fee is EUR 150,00 EUR (non-refundable) per student.

Application fee consist of a 109,00 EUR registration fee and 41,00 EUR payment for the Examination of education documents by ENIC/NARIC Center.

Application fee is EUR 20,00 EUR for citizens of Latvia who have obtained their previous education in Latvia.

Online application will be processed only after application fee received. Applicant will receive an invoice with the needed details to make an international money transfer via bank when creating online application.

For better service, candidates are requested to send receipt of application fee payment.

NOTE: Candidate pays all bank commission fees for international transfer.

[1] Regulations on the documents certifying the English language skills of the applicants to the LAC study programmes in 2022 here

[2] Applicants for the Master's study programme “Cultural Heritage Governance and Communication” shall attach to the application a letter of motivation in English (3000-5000 characters), in which they substantiate their motivation for studies in this programme (including previous academic study experience, the use of research methods and experience/connection with cultural heritage) and outline the idea of the topic of the Master's thesis.

Final admission decision will be announced till 18.07.2022.

ADMISSION INTERVIEW

All applicants are evaluated based on their results in the Admission Interview in English, in which, after the previously submitted motivation letters, as well as the answers to the questions asked by the members of the Commission, the motivation for studies in this programme, previous academic study experience, connection with cultural heritage, knowledge of English and conception about current issues in the field of cultural heritage in a local and global context are clarified. The Applicant must be able to clearly and reasonably state their intentions regarding the topic and problematics of the Master's thesis, justifying the readiness to carry out research work in this field. Commissions may ask additional questions about cultural heritage as well as academic and professional career intentions.

Admission Interview is scored on a 100-point scale. During the interview, the Applicant must receive at least 40 points, otherwise it is not possible to apply for a study place. If the Applicant receives less than 60 points in the interview, the Applicant can’t apply for a budget place in the study programme.

In reference to the official guidelines of the Latvian government classes at the Latvian Academy of Culture will take place in person (on campus), provided that both professors and students have a valid COVID-19 vaccination or recovery certificate that is recognized in the EU. You are not required to send any documents in regard to your COVID-19 vaccination status or provide any additional medical information, however, you will be asked to provide them once you arrive in Riga. 

!NB Please note, even though you are able to enter Latvia freely without self-isolation, you are still required to fill out the COVID PASS form within 48h upon your arrival in Riga and receive a QR code with information indicating the reason for your arrival https://www.covidpass.lv/en/

STUDY INFORMATION

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

WHY STUDY IN LATVIA/ LATVIAN ACADEMY OF CULTURE

GENERAL AND PRACTICAL ADVICE

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TO EVERYBODY INTERESTED IN STUDIES

Regulations for admission to academic Master's study programmes at the Latvian Academy of Culture in the 2022/2023 academic year

Student feedback

“I am very excited about the programme. An excellent, well-thought-out programme that provides all the necessary competences for those working in the field of cultural heritage and those who would like to make it their career.” (Kristīne Skrīvere, Director of the Cēsis Museum)

“The programme has been developed in a comprehensive, in-depth way, and the dedication of the lecturers is outstanding.” (Liene Johansone, Director of Olaine Museum)

“When I started this programme, I had no idea about the diversity, quality and interactivity of this study programme.” (Lelde Puisāne, Legal Adviser of the Legal Division of the Ministry of Culture)

 “The lecturers are brilliant, each with their own methods trying to make us look at and analyse culture, heritage, events and political decisions broadly and critically enough.”

“Another valuable benefit is the colleagues and peers of the programme – all passionate and dedicated professionals in their field, with whom it is not only exciting to study, but definitely exciting to collaborate in the future.” (Ilona Matvejeva, Producer of the Latvian National Theatre)

“It is a great privilege to be here with such diverse, but interesting and inspiring course mates. We can compare our theoretical ideals and ideas with our practical work. Very interesting discussions!” (Eva Koljera, Head of Āraišu Lake Castle)

 “The main value of the programme is a strong international team of lecturers, as well as course mates - outstanding personalities each in their own professional field.” (Laura Slaviņa, Head of Agency OZOLS.IR)

A modern view of cultural heritage: preservation, interpretation, and economic significance. Interview with Elīna Vikmane

The Latvian Academy of Culture has launched the international MA programme “Cultural Heritage Governance and Communication” in line with the topical global trends - modern management processes, sustainability, aspects of heritage law, resource attraction and management, digitalisation and technological opportunities to make heritage accessible and engaging. It is also essential to foster an intellectual debate on the interpretation of heritage and a modern view on its communication so that heritage is seen, heard, and felt.

Both locally and internationally, Latvia is positioning itself as a cultural superstate, whose name is being polished by our outstanding artists and whose museums are visited by more people than the average in Europe.

A conversation with Elīna Vikmane, the director of MA study programme of the Latvian Academy of Culture “Cultural Heritage Governance and Communication” and the board member of the the Latvian Museums Society about the role of culture in the national economy, the preservation of cultural heritage and the tools for its revitalisation in today's reality.

A new MA study programme “Cultural Heritage Governance and Communication” is launched at the Latvian Academy of Culture. Why is this area relevant for Latvia as a whole?"

80% of Europeans believe that cultural heritage is important to their identity and that countries should devote more resources to heritage preservation. However, there is no academic programme in Latvia that teaches how to preserve, manage, and make cultural heritage accessible to people. Inevitably, people who would want to acquire such knowledge and skills ought to leave Latvia to immerse themselves academically in the subject. We at the Latvian Museums Society also believe that an academic education programme, not just further development courses, is desperately needed for the development of the field.

The new MA study programme “Cultural Heritage Governance and Communication” is about a modern perspective on cultural heritage, the sustainability in its management, how to create new forms and communicate meaningfully with the society on cultural heritage in the 21^st century.

The programme is designed in line with the topical global trends - modern management processes, sustainability, aspects of heritage law, resource attraction and management, digitalisation and technological opportunities to make heritage accessible and engaging. It is also essential to foster an intellectual debate on the interpretation of heritage and a modern view of communication so that heritage is seen, heard, and felt in today's society. Of course, preserving heritage is important for the future, but for today's people to be interested in it, we need to create a relevant form and see the modern context.

The Latvian Academy of Culture has managed to develop a programme with a modern outlook by attracting international academic staff, consulting partners - cultural heritage institutions and organisations in Latvia - and collaborating with tourism experts - Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.

Who is the target audience for the new study programme?

The programme welcomes graduates of the bachelor's degrees in both social sciences and humanities who are still looking for a career in the field of cultural heritage - cultural tourism, memory institutions or an academic career in research.

The second group are people who have received “practical education” in the workplace, or professionals who are already working in the field of cultural heritage. This is how I got into the field of cultural heritage myself. And I am aware that routine is created in everyday work, intellectual discussion is missing, new information is needed like fresh air, new horizons to give impetus to setting new goals. There is also a need to strengthen the exchange of views and experiences between existing heritage professionals, which we want to encourage with the new programme.

We are aware that some of our students are working, so the studies are organized mostly during weekends.

Working as an expert at the Culture Capital Foundation in the field of cultural heritage, I see that people are motivated to restore our cultural heritage, and young people are starting to buy 17^th and 18^th Century Latvian manor houses that are in a rather sad state. We would like to see people in the programme who have a sense of mission to restore a part of Latvian heritage. I am convinced that the studies would make a meaningful contribution in private activities at maintaining and preserving heritage objects.

We are used to saying that Latvia is a cultural superstate. How reasonable is this statement?

The worldwide recognition of our outstanding artists, performers and conductors is undeniable. As for cultural heritage, half of Latvia's population visit cultural places or museums every year. While the population is declining, museum visits are on the rise and at their highest level in 25 years. Latvia also has one of the highest museum attendance rates in Europe. This is the picture that emerged from the study research carried out by the Latvian Academy of Culture, commissioned two years ago by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia on cultural consumption and the role of museums in Latvia. Our national development plan, as well as the strategic development plan of Riga also include the vision of becoming the cultural metropolis of Northern Europe.

On the other hand, can we be a cultural power state without a national concert hall or the national museum of contemporary art? This is a great question. It is not just the problem of infrastructure, but it also concerns international cooperation, integration in education, the development of the art market and, of course, cultural tourism. Museums also play a very important social role, and contemporary art museums are among the most courageous in creating change in society, promoting tolerance and critical thinking. And this attracts young people's interest in cultural heritage. Museums around the world are becoming more and more inclusive as they seek new ways to connect cultural heritage with today's pressing issues. Imagine, in Canada a doctor can prescribe a visit to a museum as part of therapy, and in the USA there are museum collection-based trainings for nurses and detectives. There are plenty of examples in the world.

The Covid-19 crisis highlighted the importance of the cultural sector not only as a tool for personal development, but also as an important economic aspect of national life.

Culture has always had a higher purpose. Its aim is not and will not be to make money, but the Covid-19 crisis made us look at culture from a different angle - very pragmatic and down-to-earth. This industry creates jobs, pays taxes, contributes to the development of other economic areas, improves quality of life and is an important aspect in attracting external investment. The political rhetoric also shows that crisis support is geared towards the goal of emerging from the crisis stronger, more capable, more innovative, more competitive in the domestic and export markets. This applies to all industries, including culture.

In the new MA programme, we will not only discuss the preservation of cultural heritage, but also the role of cultural heritage in tourism. Various studies show that cultural tourism is on the rise. More than half of foreign tourists in Latvia cite cultural heritage as an important factor in various sources.

Although, Latvia does not yet have a detailed cultural tourism strategy. I am convinced that the students and graduates of the new heritage programme will take part in making this interdisciplinary work happen.

I read in the news that the funds earmarked for overcoming the COVID-19 crisis and restarting the economy could be aimed towards the construction of the Museum of Contemporary Art and the development of the national concert hall.

The project of the Museum of Contemporary Art is fully developed and if construction were to begin could be available for public in two years' time, while the final decision on the location and construction of the concert hall project is yet to be taken.

Both projects have been around for a long time. About 15 years ago, the then Minister of Culture Helēna Demakova symbolically named the three facilities - the concert hall, the National Library, and the Museum of Contemporary Art - the New Three Brothers. Over the years, only one of the planned “brothers” - the National Library - has been carried out. Both the Museum of Contemporary Art and the national concert hall project have been either affected by crises or shifted to be carried out later. I believe that this moment, when resources are available, is the right moment to decide on action.

People who are not involved in art and culture on a daily basis probably do not really understand why we need a Museum of Contemporary Art.

Yes, there are people in Latvia who do not understand why culture is important and should be preserved and developed. A 2018 study by the Latvian Academy of Culture shows that only 8% of people in Latvia do not attend any cultural events. I suppose there are people who find contemporary art unacceptable and incomprehensible. This is only natural if we are familiar with just a small part of what contemporary art is and cannot look at it every day and discover the whole spectrum of it. I will refer to the example of Finland - there we see that contemporary art museums are the most popular. They attract younger, economically active foreign tourists. The current trend in the world as a whole is to create museums that reflect the development of art and visual culture from the second half of the 20th century with a look into the future.

After applicant submits the application, foreign student’s previous education documents (diploma and diploma supplement or transcript of records) are being forwarded to the Academic Information Centre (AIC) in Republic of Latvia. AIC is the Latvian representative to the European diploma recognition networks ENIC/NARIC.

The academic recognition is necessary, if the student has a foreign qualification (diploma) and he/she wants to continue studies in Latvia. AIC evaluates the level of your qualification compared to Latvian educational system.  This procedure does not apply to diplomas issued in Lithuania and Estonia after 7 January 2019.   

The AIC statement is prepared within a month, if necessary, extending the term to 4 months. Academy makes the decision on the admission based on the statement issued by the AIC. In case the AIC does not issue a positive academic recognition of previous education documents, Academy keeps the rights to terminate the application.

More information on the Centre’s functions, education system in Latvia, education documents etc. can be found in AIC webpage.

1st year  (€2,500 per year)

€1250 / 15.08.2022.

€1250 / 1.02.2023.

2nd year (€2,500 per year)

€1250 / 15.09.2023.

€1250 / 1.02.2024.

Related links: FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Department of Sociology and Management of Culture of Latvian Academy of Culture

Head of the Programme Elīna Vikmane, elina.vikmane@lka.edu.lv

More information regarding admission 2022:

☎ +371 67114807

✉ uznemsana@lka.edu.lv