The New Theatre Institute of Latvia and Rosendal Teater in Norway with the support of EEA Grants in 2022 launches a new international cooperation project “The Shake Down” (Nr. EEZ/2021/1/15). The project aims to develop a new generation of cultural leaders, who, given the right time and resources, can shift the way we consider young people as collaborators and put them in charge of the cultural creation.

“The Shake Down” is a culture development and artistic exchange designed to empower a cohort of young people to work with art, curating and festival making. 10 teenagers, from Norway and Latvia, will participate in a 15 month mentoring program that will support them to co-curating two international performing arts festivals – “The Shake Down” program within the frame of “Homo Novus” festival in September of 2022 in Riga and a programme at the International Art Festival “Bastard” in April of 2023.

The project will consist of an online community, formed and maintained by the young people, mentored and inspired by some of the world’s leading curators and artists. This online community will meet at least twice a month with workshops and conversations targeting all aspects of festival curation, production, dramaturgy, artist management and design. The online community will lead to two intensive training and exchange periods in each country, with the teens, artist mentors and guest workshops leaders.

The project has been created with the support of the European Economic Area (EEA) Grants Financial Mechanism funding period 2014. – 2021. program “Local Development, Poverty Reduction, and Cultural Cooperation” open call “Support for the Creation of Professional Art and Cultural Products for Children and Youth”.

The project’s total eligible costs are 249 635,00 EUR. The Shake Down benefits from a € 212 189,75 grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants and 37 445,25 EUR from national co-financing. The project’s realisation period is from 15 December 2021 until 1 June 2023.

The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway towards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe. There are two overall objectives: reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe, and to strengthen bilateral relations between the donor countries and 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics.

Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe. For more information, please visit eeagrants.org.

Project manager: Sandra Lapkovska (sandra@theatre.lv)