This week, from August 19 to 22, the first international professional doctorate summer school jointly organized by the Latvian Academy of Culture (LKA) and the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater (LMTA) is taking place in Stāmeriena. Latvian and Lithuanian doctoral students will meet international lecturers in lectures, master classes, think tanks and individual consultations. In the evenings, the public program of the Summer School - a concert, a discussion and a film screening - will be available free of charge to anyone interested in the Stāmeriena Palace.
The aim of the summer school is to support the professional development of Latvian and Lithuanian doctoral students, to provide support in the development of doctoral theses, as well as to promote international interdisciplinary cooperation, creativity and the exchange of ideas. Together with 16 participants from Latvia and Lithuania, excellent representatives of various art branches will work as lecturers and mentors at the summer school: film director and theoretician, Ālto University lecturer Dr.Susanna Helke (Susanna Helke, Finland), composer, JVLMA associate professor DMA Krists Auznieks (Latvia), performer, vocalist and lecturer and researcher at Norwich University of the Arts Dr.Ilona Krawczyk (Poland/UK) and pianist, teacher, lecturer Dr.Julian Hellaby (UK). The curators of the program are Prof. dr. Dāvis Sīmanis (LKA) and Assoc. Prof. dr. Ramunė Balevičiūtė (LMTA), who will also be the participants' mentors.
Some of the events of the Summer School will also be available free of charge for public visits at the Stāmeriena Palace. Monday, August 19 at 20.00 chamber ensemble "NYX TRIO" (flutist Anete Toča, violinist Tatjana Ostrovska and pianist Ieva Sarja) will perform in the summer music concert "Arkādija" in the hall of Stāmeriena Palace. The concert program includes compositions by Žaks Ibērs, Arnolds Sturms, Jānis Lūsēns, Aivars Kalējs and Lolitas Ritmanis, as well as Summer School lecturer Krists Auznieks' composition "Three", created especially for this ensemble.
Tuesday, August 20 at At 19.00, the public program will host the discussion "The role of research in building the career of a professional artist", which could be relevant for those working in the cultural sector who are considering an academic career path. The discussion will be moderated by Ramunė Balevičiūtė, vice-rector of art and science of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, participants of the discussion - lecturers and doctoral students of the Summer School. The language of the discussion is English. Later, the recording of the discussion will be available on the "Youtube" channel of the Latvian Academy of Culture.
In the final evening of the public program on Wednesday, August 21 at At 20.00, those interested will have the opportunity to watch the documentary film "Ruthless Times - Songs of Care" (2022) by Summer School lecturer, Finnish director Susanna Helke. The film addresses the challenges of the care sector in Finland, documenting the impact of an aging population on the sector. The director tackles the topic in a unique and surprising documentary-musical way. Despite the subject of the film, it is easy and pleasant to watch, it is rich in dark humor. The film is available in Finnish with English subtitles.
The International Professional Doctorate Summer School is organized by the Latvian Academy of Culture and the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater in cooperation with the municipality of Gulbene region.
Photo: www.pilis.lv