Continuing the project “International Cultural Route “Balt’s Road”” implementation activities a seminar for school children was organized at Gedert Elias Jelgava History and Art Museum, highlighting cooperation possibilities of traditional museum stocks and modern technology solutions towards preservation of historical evidences and public education.

In today’s digital age, virtual reality is one of the most popular forms of visual expression that reflects historical events in captive and attractive way, as well as encourages research and educates future generations. How the role of traditional museums changes in the age of modern technologies, do classical and virtual expositions compete with each other or they can cooperate, will digital solutions destroy “tangible” historical evidences in museums – these and similar issues were discussed by invited school children during the organized seminar.

At the beginning of the seminar children were introduced with Interreg V-A Latvia-Lithuania cross-border cooperation program’s project “International Cultural Route “Balt’s Road”, and two virtual expositions developed within the project: “Zemgale folk costumes and its wearing traditions” and “War and warriors in Jelgava through time circles”. Continuing the event children worked in groups, one of which analyzed traditional expositions while the other one – virtual. After made research, discussions were held on cooperation opportunities between both expositions, as well as possible benefits and/or losses what they may bring to museum. At the end of the discussions, seminar participants conclude that virtual and traditional expositions can be cooperation partners and do great things together.

The aim of the project: increase the number of visitors in the program area (Latvia – Lithuania), promoting the development of tourism and creating a cultural tourism route of international importance.

Total budget of the project: 763 402, 38 EUR, where EUR 648 891.96 (85%) is European Regional Fund funding and EUR 114 510, 38 EUR (15%) is national              co-financing source (the state budget grant and municipality’s contribution).

Project budget for Jelgava City Council: 117 850, 10 EUR, where 100 172, 58 (85%) EUR is European Regional Fund funding, 5 892, 51 (5%) EUR is the state budget grant and 11 785, 01 EUR (10%) – municipality contribution.

Project implementation period: April 24, 2017 – October 24, 2020

More information on the project: www.baltukelias.lt