FestivaL’and 5.0 summer school of spatial design announced

FestivaL’and is a summer school format developed in collaboration with the Valmiera Summer Theatre Festival and held for the first time in 2018. At the summer school, experimental temporary architectural and design interventions become catalysts for significant processes of change in the urban environment. The summer school is dedicated to the creative synergy of art, design, and architecture and develops as an urban laboratory, temporarily transforming certain places for the duration of the theatre festival, bringing them to life, offering unexpected experiences, changing perceptions, and revealing the potential for new uses.

The 12-day summer school will take place for the fifth time and is organised as a cooperation project between the Art Academy of Latvia (LMA), the Institute of Contemporary Art, Design, and Architecture (LMDA), and the Design faculty of the RISEBA University of Applied Sciences. In the context of climate change, circular economy principles, and the quest for a humane, socially inclusive, and natural environment, the summer school will highlight the theme of life, inviting students to experiment with the possibilities of using wood, other raw and natural materials, and by-products of industry. During the summer school, participants will gain knowledge, skills, and experience in the process of design creation, from research, ideation, and tectonic experimentation to 1:1 scale construction in urban environments, becoming part of the theatre festival’s annual event in Valmiera. At the end of the summer school, participants will receive a certificate as proof of participation and the award of 6 ECTS credits.

The Summer School’s teaching staff consists of lecturers and professionals in the fields of architecture, design, and art with experience in both practice and pedagogy: lecturer, architectural construction technology and materials expert Krista Zvirgzda, architect and lecturer Edward Crump (Kingston University), architect Niklāvs Paegle (Ēter), architect Rudolfs Dainis Šmits (RISEBA), artist Madara Kvēpa (LMA), architect and researcher Dina Suhanova (LMA, LMDA), and others.

Scholarships for international participants

Ten scholarships are available for international participants to take part in the 2024 summer school. Students and academic staff from 43 countries around the world are eligible to apply. The scholarship covers accommodation in a student hostel, two meals a day, activities included in the summer school programme, workshops, lectures, study tours, cultural activities, and the necessary materials and equipment for the duration of the school. The scholarship does not cover travel, visa, and insurance costs.

Applications are open to both bachelor and master level students in the humanities and engineering from fields of study such as architecture and urbanism, spatial development planning, construction, art and design, audiovisual arts, and similar. If motivated, the participation of students from other specialisations in the summer school will also be supported. Candidates will be selected on the basis of a competitive application form, motivation, and creativity.

The deadline for applications for scholarships for international participants is April 1. More information on how to apply is available on the FestivaL’and website.

The summer school is organised by the Art Academy of Latvia, the Institute of Contemporary Art, Design, and Architecture, and the Design faculty of the RISEBA University of Applied Sciences. The Summer School is financially supported by the State Education Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia and
Valmiera Municipality. Applications for participants from Latvia and those who are not applying for scholarships will be announced in April. You can keep up to date with the latest information on the summer school un the FestivaL’and website and Facebook account.