PROJECT NAME:

Project „Restoration of the Museum of Jānis Akuraters” financedby European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism Programme LV04 “Conservation and Revitalisation of Cultural and Natural Heritage”.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT:

To renew the memorial house of the museum Jānis Akuraters located on O.Vācieša Street 6a, Riga, in order to accommodate it for performance of entrusted functions and make its cultural content compliant with the modern requirements.

THE SUBSTANTIATiON OF THE PROJECT

Jānis Akuraters Museum is located in a building that was built in 1933 to the design of Verners Vitands and in 1991 was opened as a branch-museum of the Rainis Museum of Literature and Art History. As of 1 October 2009 Jānis Akuraters Museum is part of the Association of Memorial Museums and at present it is possible to visit five rooms in it that were inhabited by J.Akuraters and his family in the 1930’s and by the poet’s family after his death.

The mission of the museum is to preserve the authenticity of the house built in the 30’s of the past century, as well as its interior, create and maintain the society’s interest for the winner of the Fatherland Award, poet that was not spoken of during the occupation years, writer and social worker Jānis Akuraters (1876-1937).

Today the writer’s house is one of the cultural centers of the left bank of the River Daugava where, just as during the time of Jānis Akuraters, writers and artists, musicians and actors, as well as students in theatre groups gather.

PLANNED ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT

1.Renewal of the building of Jānis Akuraters memorial museum upgrading the condition of existing exposition by construction of entrance unit in the semi-basement for museum visitors and new exposition spaces, improving the territory, reconstructing the building itself and training the employees of State Real Estate (VNĪ) in execution of restoration work.

2.Exchange of experience with Lillehammer Museum Association of the Kingdom of the Norway and its special museums: museum-house of the writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson – Aulestad in Follebu and museum-house of the writer Sigrid Undset - Bjerkebæk in Lillehammer.

3.Development of new cultural services creating new museum programs.

4.Project publicity, including creation of the booklet on the results of the Project and organizing of the workshop on the execution of reconstruction work in the buildings of memorial museums.

5.Project management.

Project outcomes

The following outcomes have been reached after the implementation of the activities of the project:

  • Renewed building of Jānis Akuraters memorial museum;
  • Constructed entrance unit in the semi-basement for museum visitors;
  • Improved territory adjacent to the renewed object of cultural heritage of 2571sqm;
  • New cultural services developed and new museum programs created;
  • Exchange of experience ensured.

EVENTS, TIMELINE AND STATUS OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

III-IV quarter of 2014 – organization of the procurement procedure for the development of the technical project, including its cultural and historical research

IV quarter of 2014 till II quarter of 2015 – development of the technical project and expert analysis of the technical project

II – III quarter of 2015 – organization of the procurement procedure for the performance of reconstruction works with elements of restoration

I quarter of 2016 till III quarter of 2016 – performance of reconstruction works and construction supervision

III quarter of 2016 till IV quarter of 2016 – publicity events.

TOTAL AREA OF THE PROJECT

Total area of the territory 2571 square meters

Total area of the building 285,10 square meters

TOTAL ELIGIBLE COSTS

250000,00 EUR (excl. VAT)

The amount of support - 100% of eligible costs, not more than 250 000.00 euro of which:

EEA co-financing - 85% of eligible costs, not more than 212 500.00 euro;

National co-financing - 15% of eligible costs, not more than 37 500.00 euro;

Co-financing of the beneficiary - 0% of the total eligible project costs, not more than 0.00 euro.

Projectnumber: EEZLV04/GSKMS/2013/17.

Projectpromoter: Associationof Memorial museums.

Project title: "Restoration of the Museum of Jānis Akuraters".

Date of project contract: 30.09.2014.

Projectpartners: State Joint-Stock Company “State Real Estates”,

Lillehammer Museum Association from Kingdom of Norway.

Project start date: 30.09.2014.

Duration:25 months.

Venue:Riga (Latvia).

The project is implemented with financial support of European Economic Area Financial Mechanism Programme LV04 “Conservation and Revitalisation of Cultural and Natural Heritage”. More information about European Economic Area Financial Mechanism is available at website .