LEADER iniciatīva 2014 | Page 81

Project title: Sewing of the folk costumes of Virga and Priekule – an insight into the ethnography of Lower Kurland Aim: rise awareness and educate about ethnographic traditions of the Lower Kurland rural territories of Latvia Implementer of the project: municipality of Priekule rural territory Address: 1 Saules Street, Priekule, rural territory of Priekule, LV 3434 Contacts: project director Daiga Egle – organiser of tourism in rural territory, phone: 29472063, e-mail: [email protected] Total costs of the project: 3948.47 EUR Public funding: 3553.62 EUR About the submitter of the project in a nutshell: Municipality of Priekule rural territory continues to implement all functions allocated to the municipality including also preservation of natural, historical and cultural heritage. Municipality of Priekule rural territory was established in July, 2009, after the administrative territorial reform when town of Priekule and rural municipalities of Virga, Priekule, Bunka, Kalēti and Gramzda begun to work together. Projects implemented within the frameworks of the LEADER program have already practically improved infrastructure in rural areas and quality of life of the locals. Six depositories of antiquities operate in the rural territory of Priekule providing great support to the tourism development. They are active and try to find new ideas as to the protection of the Latvian, ethnographic heritage of the local villages. This project will provide in-depth view into the ethnographic heritage of Virga and Priekule, including, Latvian national costumes, elements they are comprised of, patterns and combinations of patterns, ornaments, crowns and other elements of the national costumes. Project description: Two authentic (developed as close as possible to the replica!), high quality Latvian national costumes of Virga and Priekule have been developed and are displayed. These costumes serve as artefacts in the depositories of antiquities of the rural territory. Costumes are worn during the educational lessons of the Latvian ethnography museum organised for children and youth. Also management of the rural territory and cultural workers put on those costumes while organising various events related to culture, folklore and ethnography, as well as establishing new Latvian traditions in the rural territory and outside the rural territory. 79