From 23 to 27 September 2024, Kuldīga hosted masterclasses as part of the European cooperation project "YES / Young European Sculpture," with the central theme "Amplifying Voices and Challenging Power." Teachers and students from France, Portugal, Italy, and Latvia participated.

The week-long programme was organised by the Art Academy of Latvia and took place in various creative spaces in Kuldīga, including the Needle Factory, Kuldīga Artist Residence, Kuldīga Art House, and Studio Space (Kaļķu iela quarter), as well as other locations across the city.

The workshops included four experimental sessions focusing on advanced sculpture training, led by experienced artists from the Art Academy of Latvia: Gļebs Panteļejevs, Aigars Bikše, Egons Perševics, Kristians Brekte, and Liene Mackus.

During the camp, both individual and collective projects were developed, with the results presented at the end of the event. Alongside the practical sessions, participants engaged in discussions, assemblies, and research, culminating in a collective curatorial manifesto that reflected on European cultural heritage, environmental sustainability, capitalism, and social and climate justice.

The European cooperation project "YES / Young European Sculpture" brings together four European art and design universities: the TALM School of Art and Design (France), the Carrara Academy of Fine Arts (Italy), the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Porto (Portugal), and the Art Academy of Latvia. The project aims to develop a joint study programme in the field of sculpture, exploring contemporary sculptural contexts in Europe with a particular focus on sustainable practices, public and virtual spaces, and social engagement.

Program of Masterclass