The objective of the project is to create new knowledge on the factors and expressions of young people’s (13-25 y.o.) participation, its authenticity in formal and non-formal education settings, as well as in extracurricular activities; develop strategies and practical solutions for the promotion of authentic and meaningful participation both on individual level and in the interaction of involved stakeholders; make an epistemological and practical contribution to the development of a youth-centred participatory approach. A methodology in which the boundary between researchers, educators and young people is made permeable has been chosen: design-based implementation research, participatory action research, and participatory evaluation research. Visual methods, including digital storytelling and photovoice, will be used to explore young people's experiences. The research project will be implemented by the Latvian Academy of Culture and its interdisciplinary researchers’ team experienced in research on democratic and participatory processes, as well as on the youth sector. Testing and validating new forms of civic participation will contribute to an open and democratic learning environment. Apart from scientific publications, a range of applied results are planned aimed at recommendations for youth and education policy makers. The impact of the project is planned on the field of education sciences, as well as youth sociology, and their research community in Latvia un abroad.

The project “Cultural and creative ecosystem of Latvia as a resource of resilience and sustainability” is implemented by the research Consortium of the leading arts and cultural research, higher education and cultural heritage institutions - the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC); Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (JVLAM); the Art Academy of Latvia (AAL); the National Library of Latvia (NLL), and the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia (ILFA). The goal: to create new knowledge based on an interdisciplinary research approach about the 1) manifestations of the resilience of the cultural and creative ecosystem in the current processes, especially by shedding light on the dynamics of the cultural offer and accessibility in the face-to-face and digital environment, as well as the employment and education processes of the sector; 2) the connection with historical processes, emphasizing and evaluating the role of the Soviet period to understand the current culture and arts; 3) representations of the social and economic impact on the sustainable development of society. The new knowledge will be shared in 76 scholarly articles, 8 monographs, 77 international conferences, Master’s and Doctoral theses, and integrated into academic curricula of all levels. The team will develop 11 policy reports, ensuring knowledge transfer and an inclusive dialogue of researchers and cultural and creative sector, strengthening its self-confidence and resilience