Cultural heritage at conversation festival “LAMPA” in Latvia 

From July 10 to 11 happened the conversation festival “LAMPA” in Cēsis Castle Park, Latvia. The festival is an initiative and a platform where more than 300 organizers and individuals can exchange opinions and discuss current topics with the public (admission to the festival is free). This conversation festival has been held since 2015, and each year it addresses a different topic; this year it was “What must not be left unsaid”. 

For the first time also the National Heritage Board of Latvia coordinated a two-day program. One of the discussions was “Cultural Heritage Beyond the Algorithm”, which was organized to promote and raise awareness of the European Heritage Label and European Cultural Routes, and to explain how it can help uncover lesser known, but significant stories and places that shape Europe’s cultural space. The discussion took place at the end of the day and was attended by more than thirty people. 

The participants in the discussion included representatives of the Historic Centre of Turaida (EHL site in Latvia), the newly created “Singing Heritage Route”, the European Cultural Routes Program in Latvia, the Kurzeme Planning Region, as well as an enthusiastic traveler – writer. Together, they discussed questions such as – Do algorithms help us discover Europe, or do they show us only a small part of it; Why is it important to talk not only about places, but also about ideas and shared European values; What can everyone do on their next trip to discover Europe beyond the algorithm? 

One of the conclusions was that the problem isn’t the algorithms, but rather with how we choose to perceive them—whether we try to learn more and see what lies a few steps ahead. The locals and their stories are the key to connecting with the place you’re traveling to, as well as exploring what the destination country, region, city, and local institutions have to offer, because they are familiar with local values and century-old stories and hidden places.