ARTACC Artists' Acceleration - Artlab Platform for Further Education of Professionals in Culture and Arts Project LVL-LEO

Background of the Project – search after new empty spaces in the further educational system in the field of professional Art and Culture in Latvia

Background of the Project Nowadays, as we gradually change from industrial to knowledge based societies, both citizens; public and private companies are demanding an increasing variety of new kinds of commodities and services. New markets are opening up for artists in arts and culture, in the creative industries, in the experience economy and in the traditional business world. Cultural industries, and the creative economy of which they are a part, include a wide array of economic activities, ranging from crafts through arts, music and film to publishing and the multimedia industry. What cultural industries have in common is that they create content, and use creativity, skill and in some cases intellectual property, to produce products and services with social and cultural meaning..

Background of the Project In Latvia, as in the entire EU, a big number of artists work in traditional ways and on traditional platforms. But as a consequence of the market economy more and more artists will need to learn how to create, develop and market their own projects and services, and thereby influencing and managing their own work areas throughout life. Very common problem for people with Arts' and Music education in Latvia as well as in other European countries is the high level of professional skills and knowledge in their branch, but the lack of even basic skills and knowledge in Business, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Foreign Languages, computers etc. Most of professional artists do not now about their possibilities to use the Art not only as the aim, but also as the instrument in their activities as consultant for other businesses demanding new, creative solutions. This shows the big Need for the results of the Project

Aims of the Project The whole process and results of this particular Project will be devoted to the enhancing of the skills of Professionals working in Arts and Creative Industries. The aim of the project is to research, to adapt and to implement the Danish Artlab Model into Latvian professional further education system and to improve the similar support and education systems for professional artists in other Project's countries.

Aims of the Project During the ARTACC Project there will be work group created from the Partner countries with objectives: 1) to research the real needs of the target group - professional artists in Latvia; 2) to do the research of the Danish Artlab Model; 3) to adapt the existing Methods and to prepare the content of the course for implementation in Latvia and other Project countries. To provide the existing program with the computer and foreign language skills appropriate to the needs of the aim group in partner countries. To foreseen the usage of the Model for use in enlarged aim group – consulting and coaching of people professionally working in the field of culture, including Arts’ education and culture centers.

Aims of the Project 4) To prepare the mechanism of introducing the courses as well as teaching/learning materials and real implementation of the Artlab Model in Latvia and Project countries. 5) To test the elaborated Model in the selected target group and experts, who will implement the elaborated Model in Latvia.

Expected Results of the Project The Project aims to transfer a teaching/coaching/consulting system from ARTLAB, Denmark, that doesn't exist in Latvia at all. The transfer of the Danish Artlab Model will occur via research, adaptation and implementing of the existing system according to the real needs of the target group in Latvia. The new, unique vocational training of professional artists system will be created together with a new Curriculum Module that will contribute significantly to the further, lifelong learning activities provided in Latvia and Project's countries. The new educational Module is full of interest to the European community - the requirement of knowledge and skills concerning the Project’s theme will be satisfied. It will be produced in form of printed materials supplemented by CD-ROM, as well as internet publications.

Activities in the Project: TimeMeeting November 2009Opening seminar in Copenhagen, Denmark May 2010Seminar in Riga, Latvia 27. – 29. September 2010 Seminar in Riga, Latvia (Interim report) March 2011Final Conference in Riga, Latvia

Activities in the Project: Needs analysis of the target group from November 2002 till May 2010: -RDCSS creates the questionnaire, questions the target group in Latvia, compiles the results of the research; -LRSP - provides the target group members; - ARTLAB, ABO-University, Kunstenaars&CO provides their experience of work with the artists and culture professionals

Activities in the Project: Elaboration of a new model of further education for Latvia: -RDCSS, KRIIC, Artlab/DK - elaborate the content and methodological parts of the educational Model; -ABO-University, Kunstenaars&CO provide their contents, methods and experience of work with the artists and culture professionals; -KRIIC - evaluates of the Model according the standards of vocational further education.

Activities in the Project: Approbation and testing of the new model in Latvia -RDCSS and LRSP - provide the target group members, organize the approbation and testing of the new Model in Latvia; -ARTLAB, ABO-University, Kunstenaars&CO provide the experts from their organizations for testing of the new model in Latvia.

Activities in the Project: Dissemination activities of all Partners: Information for Mass media in their countries; Dissemination of the Results of the Project; Final conference and its’ dissemination activities; Publishing of the process and the results of the Project on the website.

Activities in the Project: Additional activities: All Partners collect the evidences of work – pictures, accounts, receipts, publications etc; Information of affiliated organisations and State organisations, Municipalities.

Process of Work of the Project...as pleasant as possible with successfull and interesting communication, to make the beaurocratic procedure of accounting and reporting as effective as possible