Liepāja 2027 Foundation Board selected

An open competition for the selection of the Board Chairperson and two Board members of the Liepāja 2027 Foundation has been finalised. Inta Šoriņa, the current project manager of the European Capital of Culture 2027 project, has been selected as the Chairperson of the Board, Baiba Bartkeviča, the artistic director of the “Great Amber” concert hall, will become the Board member on artistic work, and Eva Ciekurze, the current Board member of the Liepāja Theatre Eva Ciekurze will assume the responsibility as the Board member on financial and legal matters.

As announced earlier, on 26 January 2023, following the winning of the title “European Capital of Culture 2027” by the City of Liepāja, Liepāja City Council members adopted a decision to establish the foundation “Liepāja 2027 Foundation” to carry out the project “European Capital of Culture 2027” and to prepare and conduct the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of Liepāja in 2025. Therefore, the Liepāja City Municipality announced an open competition for the positions of the Board Chairperson and two Board Members in the beginning of February, with the deadline until 26 February this year.

Altogether, eight candidates applied for all positions – two for the position of Board Chairperson and six for the two Board members.

Applicants’ evaluations were carried out by Ronalds Fricbergs, Executive Director of the Liepāja City Municipality, Dace Arāja, Head of the Legal Department of the Liepāja City Municipality Administration, Juris Jirgens, Head of the Culture Department, Antra Brūna, Advisor to the Executive Director of the Liepāja City Municipality, and Aija Nelsone, Head of the Personnel Department of the Liepāja City Municipality Administration.

The main responsibilities of the Chairperson of the Board will include delivering the strategy and action plan to implement the “Liepāja 2027” and “Liepāja 400” programme and achieving the Foundation’s objectives as outlined in the concept, programme, and artistic vision for Liepāja as the European Capital of Culture 2027, as well as developing and implementing the Liepāja 400th Anniversary programme of events in 2025. The responsibilities will also include setting up the team, representing the foundation nationally and internationally, and coordinating with partners, including ministries, representatives of the European Commission, etc.

The responsibilities of the Board Member on artistic work will include the implementation of the “Liepāja 2027” and “Liepāja 400” programmes, supervising and delivering the content of the artistic programme, planning and control of the budget of the artistic programme, and delivering the cooperation projects of the artistic programme.

Whereas the Foundation’s Board Member in charge of external funding will include the implementation of the “Liepāja 2027” and “Liepāja 400” programme and the accomplishment of the Foundation’s tasks, financial planning, budgeting, the establishment, and introduction of a financial control system and reporting framework, the management of procurement procedures and document circulation, as well as the organisation and supervision of fundraising from various financial sources.  

Delivering the European Capital of Culture 2027 project’s rich programme over the period 2023-2028 will entail implementing cross-sectoral activities, contributing to the city’s socio-economic growth, attracting international publicity, boosting tourist flows, developing the creative industries sector, carrying out cooperation projects with the public, private and non-governmental sectors, and raising funds from various financial sources, including European Union funds and the private sector.

For more information about Liepāja as European Capital of Culture 2027, please visit: www.liepaja2027.lv/eng

To read Liepāja’s bid and the prepared project, please visit: https://faili.liepaja.lv/Publikacijas/Liepaja-EKG-pieteikums-ENG.pdf

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