On 14 June 2024, the first partners’ meeting of the project “Digital crafts tourism” (D-tour) (LL-00100) took place in Daugavpils. The project partners from Latgale Planning Region, Kraslava Municipality, Daugavpils state city municipal institution “Unity House”, Anīkščiai Art Incubator – Art Studio, Panevėžys District Municipality Administration, Interreg Latvia-Lithuania programme representatives came together to launch the project.
The aim of the project “D-tour” is to promote crafts as a preserver of the cultural heritage of the Latvian-Lithuanian cross-border area by transforming it into a digital tourism product.
The project partners will work together to find solutions to the challenge of modern digital solutions overshadowing traditional craft skills. A series of interactive exhibitions will be created in the Latgale region (Latvia) and the regions of Utena and Panevėžys (Lithuania). These exhibitions will not only showcase traditional crafts, skills and the use of natural materials but will also serve as a bridge between ancient traditions and modern technologies, promoting a deeper understanding of the cultural richness of the regions.
Five different crafts will be included in the digital exhibitions “The Universe of Traditional Crafts of Latgale” in Daugavpils, a virtual exhibition on woodworking and Krāslava-specific wooden architecture, an exhibition on ceramics in Anīkščiai and two craft exhibitions in the Panevėžys region – on traditional linen weaving in Aukštaitija and traditional folk musical instruments in Panevėžys.
At the project opening Iveta Maļina-Tabūne, Head of Administration of the Latgale Planning Region and Latgale Special Economic Zone, noted that the project will not only enrich the cultural heritage of Latvia-Lithuania cross-border regions with digital exhibitions, promoting local crafts, but will also attract tourists and increase the number of visitors to the regions.
The project “Digital crafts tourism” (acronym D-tour; No LL-00100) is co-funded by the European Union. The project is implemented within the Interreg VI-A Latvia-Lithuania Programme 2021-2027.
The total project budget is EUR 697 275. The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund with EUR 557 820.
Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Programme 2021–2027 aims to enhance the sustainable and cohesive socioeconomic development of its regions by fostering competitiveness and attractiveness for residents, students, workers, and visitors alike, thereby creating environments conducive to living, studying, working, and visiting.
Programme website: http://www.latlit.eu. About the project: latlit.eu/theprojects/d-tour/.
This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the Latgale Planning Region and does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament
Project manager: Sarmīte Teivāne, +371 65423801, e-mail: sarmite.teivane@lpr.gov.lv, Latgale Planning Region.
