Rigas street 10
Valmiera, LV-4201
Latvia
- Arts
Association "Haritas” has 58 members, both juridical and physical persons: representatives of the professional art, amateur collectives, culture centers in parishes, other NGOs of the culture sphere. In Association on regular basis works 3 staff members, we have 10 volunteers which are involved in organization on project basis. The target group of the association is not only representatives and cooperation partners of the cultural field, but also other NGOs, especially NGOs of social field, government institutions, local municipalities, entrepreneurs. Association has cooperation with Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Finance. “Haritas” is a member of association “Latvijas Pilsoniskā alianse” and Women Cooperation network. As NGO, we don't have a regular funding from state or municipality, main sources for funding are grants for projects. Regional and national grant programms we work with are: Vidzeme Culture programme, State Culture Capital Foundation grants, Society Integration Foundation grant programmes. We also work with international grant programmes like Programme of EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme “Grundtvig”, European Commission's Programme “Youth in Action”, European Culture Foundation, Nordic Culture Point. Organization budget for 2009 was 12 000 EUR, for year 2010: 35 000 EUR.
Vidzeme Culture and Art Association "Haritas" works to promote intercultural dialogue in local and European level and to create cultural events for educating society, especially society groups with low access to culture and its products. The main aims of the association are: - to strengthen culture sector, promoting cultural education, exchange of ideas, knowledge and experience; - to motivate participation in social life with mediation of art and culture; - to facilitate awareness of cultural identity; - to develop cultural heritage policy; - to plan, organize and implement cultural events, activities and processes; - to promote cooperation between local governments, governmental institutions, nongovernmental organizations and entrepreneurs; - to maintain interest advocacy of its members, providing adequate help.
In year 2008 Association “Haritas” established culture organization cooperation network “European Culture Street”. Aim of the network: to establish an environment for exchanging ideas, resources and experiences for different culture organizations to create cultural events for educating society, especially society groups with low access to culture and its products. In summer 2010 1st International Festival “European Culture street” took place in Valmiera, Latvia. Festivals like this will be organised every second year. Every year in April Children and Youth Amateur theatre festival is organised. Developing through time, it is also witht National Playwrighters contest. Every year in September International Poetry event “Poetry tour” is organised. Poets from Latvia, Estonia and Finland take part in this event, reading their poetry in events organized in every country. Association also organizes and are interested in cooperation in projects in films, literature, exhibitions, traditional arts and youth involvement.