Ventspils Allocates 15 Thousand to Culture, But Will That Cover One Jazz Concert in Liepāja?

Ventspils municipality has announced it will distribute 15,000 euros for cultural projects, with a maximum allocation of 1,500 euros per project. For comparison — in Liepāja, for that amount of money you can buy two ticket sets to a Liepāja Symphony Orchestra concert, and still have money left for bread on the way home.

The competition rules mention they will support projects with 'innovative approaches.' Liepāja resident Jānis comments: 'Innovative in Ventspils means the same thing they did ten years ago, just with a phone app.' Meanwhile, in Liepāja innovation means a new tram route or a café where you can pay by card.

Particularly amusing is the requirement for projects that 'promote social integration.' In Ventspils, social integration means everyone complains about the roads together, but in Liepāja we all take pride in Karosta together and laugh at Riga's prices.

Meanwhile, Liepāja's cultural budget is so large that we can afford both rock music festivals and theater performances and art exhibitions. And there's still money left for tram tickets, which, by the way, are still cheaper than coffee in Riga.