Kazdanga Museum Lives in Temporary Mode Like Liepāja's Tram - Always Waiting for Better Times

The cultural sector in Liepāja municipality lives like in student dormitories — with minimal budget and hopes for better times. Kazdanga Museum has moved from its proud manor to a cultural center building, which is roughly the same as moving from a private house to a communal apartment.

Museum director Solvita Janvāre philosophically explains the situation: "Culture is not primary, something people cannot live without." This is almost as frank as saying that culture is like Liepāja's tram — needed, unique, but always lacking money for normal operation. At least the tram has its own tracks, but the museum now doesn't even have its own exhibition concept.

The biggest problem is that tourists still go to the manor, but the museum is elsewhere. It's like heading to Liepāja's central railway station, but the train turns out to be in Karosta. "People primarily go to the manor. Many haven't even delved into the fact that the museum is in another building," complains Janvāre. Now the museum offers outdoor excursions, which sounds like trying to sell ice cream in winter — theoretically possible, but practically complicated.

Everyone is waiting for the time after the "Liepāja 2027" program, when money might possibly be found for culture too. Until then, the museum continues to work in "temporary version," which in the cultural world means the same thing that "under repair" means in public transport — nobody knows when it will end, but everyone hopes it's soon.