NET-HERITAGE

Cultural Heritage Context

Cultural monuments in the Republic of Latvia form a constituent part of cultural and historical heritage and are most commonly encountered as cultural and historical landscapes and individual territories (ancient burial sites, cemeteries, parks, sites of historical events, sites of activity of prominent persons), as well as individual burial sites, building complexes and separate buildings, pieces of art, equipment and items having historical, scientific, artistic or any other form of cultural value, the future preservation of which is crucial regarding the national and public interests of Latvia, as well as international interests.

Cultural monuments are divided in the following categories:

• Archaeological monuments,
• Monuments of urban development,
• Architectural monuments,
• Monuments of art,
• Historic monuments

Cultural Heritage Governance and Policy

Public administration of cultural heritage (cultural monuments) preservation and use in the Republic of Latvia is regulated by the Cabinet of Ministers and implemented by the State Inspection for Heritage Protection, which is responsible for identification, examination and registration of cultural monuments. State Inspection for Heritage Protection works under supervision of the Ministry of Culture.

Inspection works according to Cultural Monuments Protection Law of the Republic of Latvia, Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and 37 other different laws and regulations concerning cultural heritage, By-laws of the State Inspection for Heritage Protection, as well as regulations issued by the Ministry of Culture and State Inspection for Heritage Protection.

Inspection has 5 regional offices in Kurzeme, Latgale, Vidzeme, Zemgale and Riga region.

Objectives of Inspection’s work:

- Identified, protected and maintained heritage integrated into society
- High-quality living space
- Identity and collective memory

Cultural Heritage Funding

Culture Monument Research, Rescue and Restoration Programme of the State Inspection for Heritage Protection 

State non-profit organisation Culture Capital Foundation  (CCF)

CCF has adopted the following cultural heritage strategic directions:

1) Training of specialists in cultural heritage research, preservation and practice.
2) Support of theoretical and research works for public use or reference purposes, or teaching aids in the long term.
3) Exploration, research and inventory of culture and history values of Riga historic centre.

Latvian Council of Science attributes the grants for the cultural heritage research

EU structural funds grants in several activities for regional development and Norwegian Financial Mechanism and European Economic Area Financial Mechanism that offers funding for preservation of European cultural heritage objects. These mechanisms support various individual projects implemented by municipalities, regional or national authorities in line with common goals.

Cultural Heritage Research

Cultural values that are eligible for inscription in the list of State protected cultural monuments are subjected to state inventory, irrespective of their ownership, possession or use. The state inventory of monuments includes their exploration and survey, determining their historical, scientific, artistic, architectural, ethnographic or other cultural value, their registration, investigation, and preparation of inventory documentation.

The State Inspection for Heritage Protection performs the inventory, examination and research, preparation of draft cultural monument lists and development of inscription documents, as well as ensuring the research of cultural monuments.  The Research materials are stored in the Monument Documentation Centre of the State Inspection for Heritage Protection.

Other professional institutions following the research in the cultural heritage field:

Institute of Latvian History at the University of Latvia - Major research fields of the Institute include, the prehistory of Latvia; ethnic and cultural history of the inhabitants of Latvia in prehistory and medieval times; ethnic history of the Baltic States; 20th century history of Latvia; traditional life ways and customs of the inhabitants of Latvia; culture-historical studies on Riga; bioarchaeology; palaeodemography; dendrochronology.

Institute of the History of Art at the Latvian Academy of Arts follows research in the arts and architecture fields. In accordance with their specific profile the following national and municipal museums, among others, perform the examination and research of the cultural heritage: Rundāle Palace Museum, Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia, Museum of Latvian History, Museum of the History of Rīga and Navigation, museums of Limbaži, Ventspils and other cities.

Riga Technical University: scientific research on tangible cultural heritage (eg. Conservation and restoration Centre of the stone materials)

There is a lack of scientific research centre–institutes specialising within the Cultural Heritage field in Latvia and therefore the activities of the concerned researches are dispersed and cooperation is fragmented. The strategy of Education and Science, Energy, Agriculture, Transport and Regional developed in the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia Nr.412 “About the Priorities of Financing of Sciences, 2006–2009”, does not include tangible cultural heritage.

Cultural Heritage Education and Outreach

Institutions and organizations providing education and training in the sphere of cultural heritage are as follows: Riga Technical University, Latvian Academy of Arts, University of Latvia (Faculty of History, Geography and Earth Sciences), Latvian Academy of Culture, Secondary schools for different crafts and construction colleges, Latvian Chamber of Crafts.

Education in the sphere of cultural heritage is ensured under the general educational curricula and several specialised subjects in the educational institutions of Latvia. There are also different training courses held.

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