Taras Shevchenko, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy on European Integration, participated in an international forum during his working visit to the Republic of Latvia titled “Ukraine EU integration through art and culture: Connecting Ukraine and Latvia”.
During his speech at the forum, Taras Shevchenko emphasized that art and culture are not only means of expressing national identity but also powerful tools for building partnership relations between Ukraine and Latvia. The forum included presentations by Latvian experts on structure government and cultural policy of Latvia, creative industries, and cultural heritage. Additionally, two panel discussions took place during the forum with the participation of representatives of Latvia and Ukraine: “European Cultural Space: Experience of Latvia” and “Rebuilding Cultural Space in Ukraine”.
“Latvia is not only a reliable ally but also an example of cooperation and support in difficult times. This country has provided not only temporary shelter for thousands of Ukrainians during russian aggression but has also become an active partner in joint efforts towards Ukraine’s victory and stability,” emphasized Taras Shevchenko.
As part of the visit, Taras Shevchenko also held a series of meetings with the leadership of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. In particular, during a meeting with Minister of Culture Agnese Logina, they discussed priorities for cooperation in the fields of cultural and information policy. The exchange of experience on strengthening media literacy and countering disinformation was particularly beneficial for both sides. Since both parties have undergone a challenging process of decolonization, they had the opportunity to share successes in this direction and outline plans for the future.
The Minister of Culture of Latvia provided information on national legislation and EU legal norms and agreed to offer methodological assistance in the implementation of European legislation. Agnese Logina emphasized that Latvia is ready to continue assisting Ukrainians and is open to cooperation with Ukrainian artists and cultural institutions.
During the meeting with the Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Inga Bērziņa, current issues of cultural decentralization and the role of cultural initiatives in community development were also discussed.
