CHERRY concludes 2-day partner meeting in Zemgale, Latvia
CHERRY's two-day strategic partners' meeting in Zemgale, Latvia, concluded successfully. The event took place on January 21-22, 2025 and focused on advancing discussions and actions related to leveraging culture for local development, featuring expert presentations, discussions, and insightful study visits.
Day 1
The first day began with opening remarks and an agenda overview by the project lead from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region.
Key presentations focused on using creativity and culture as tools for local development, sharing good practices, and planning next steps. Updates were provided by SERDA and Gjirokaster Municipality on their activities, along with progress reports on Pilot Actions 1 and 2. The discussions also finalized Semester 4 activities, organized the upcoming study visit in France, and prepared plans for Semester 5.
In the afternoon, attendees visited the Business Incubator of the Jelgava Branch of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA), which supports startups in cultural and creative industries. They also toured Jelgava Technology Secondary School, where they learned about the school’s efforts to foster future skills such as creativity and flexibility in young people.
Day 2
The second day focused on local culture, starting with a guided tour of the Holy Trinity Church Tower and a walk through Jelgava’s Old Town Street Quarter, highlighting the area’s historical and cultural significance.
This was followed by a visit to the House of Latvian Traditions and Crafts, where participants observed demonstrations of traditional weaving techniques.
The meeting concluded with a reflection session led by an expert from the hosting partner. The session focused on how to integrate cultural elements into local development strategies, summarizing key takeaways from the event.