On 21 February, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the leadership of the 'Liepāja 2027' foundation, as well as with Gunārs Ansiņš, Chairman of the Liepāja City Council, Aivars Priedols, Chairman of the South Kurzeme Municipality council, Inese Astaševska, Chairwoman of the Kuldīga Municipality Council, Arvils Ašeradens, Minister of Finance, and Agnese Logina, Minister of Culture, at the Riga Castle to discuss the programme implementation of Liepāja as the European Capital of Culture 2027.
"It is not only an honour but also a responsibility for me to be the patron of Liepāja – the European Capital of Culture 2027. That is why today, here at the Riga Castle, I have invited for a discussion all of the relevant stakeholders – the leadership of Liepāja State City, South Kurzeme and Kuldīga Municipalities, the Ministers of Finance and Culture, as well as the leadership of the Liepāja 2027 Foundation – in order to find a common denominator for successful cooperation and excellence execution of the Liepāja 2027 programme," said the President of Latvia.
During the meeting, President Rinkēvičs pointed out that the European Capital of Culture programme is a long-term project that brings together and unites not only culture industry professionals but also numerous stakeholder institutions. Therefore, the key variable for the successful implementation of this long-term programme is the ability to cooperate. The President of Latvia has emphasised the need for cooperation at all levels – between the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, local municipalities and relevant ministries.
“The title of European Capital of Culture also reflects the country’s international standing. This must be leveraged strategically. It is no secret that Latvia is not yet a household name in many parts of Europe. That is why, the title of the European Capital of Culture provides an excellent opportunity to showcase our cultural heritage and uniqueness not only regionally, but also nationally and at the European level. This will enhance the visibility and recognition of Liepāja, Kuldīga, South Kurzeme Municipality, and Latvia in the minds of many Europeans," said E. Rinkēvičs.
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On 10 August 2023, during a visit to Liepāja State city, the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs assumed the patronage of Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027.
