Research
The proposal for the creation of the Cultural Canon and, subsequently, its progress and implementation have been evaluated in a number of studies as well as in publications. These studies not only allow the history of the Canon’s development to be traced, but also provide knowledge and recommendations for the practical use of the Latvia’s Cultural Canon and its further development.
On 6 December 2007, Latvia’s Ministry of Culture organised a conference “The Latvia’s Cultural Canon – Cornerstone of a United Society” (Latvijas Kultūras kanons – saliedētas sabiedrības stūrakmens) as part of the “Seven Sisters” (Septiņas māsas) conference series. This conference was the first public discussion on the creation concept, development proposals and framework for the Latvia’s Cultural Canon. The recommendations of the conference were taken into account during the creation process of the Latvia’s Cultural Canon in 2008.
In 2009, the Department of Cultural Sociology and Management of the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) published the results of a study “Latvian Young People’s Notions of the Cultural Canon” (Latvijas jauniešu priekšstati par kultūras kanonu). Within the study, LAC lecturers and students collected both qualitative (using focus groups) and quantitative data (using questionnaires) between September 2008 and January 2009. In total, more than 750 young people were canvassed.
In 2013, the CultureLab association and the LAC conducted an assessment study entitled “Methodological Criteria and Principles for the Development of the Latvia’s Cultural Canon” (Latvijas kultūras kanona veidošanas metodoloģiskie kritēriji un principi), commissioned by the Ministry of Culture. The aim of the research was to evaluate the methodology for developing the Canon and pathways for its further development, as well as to present proposals on making the Latvia’s Cultural Canon relevant, on its functionality and the development of sustainability policy.
In 2014, the Library Advisory Centre of the National Library of Latvia prepared a set of consultative documents – “The Latvia’s Cultural Canon and Its Potential Applications in Libraries” (Latvijas Kultūras kanons un tā izmantošanas iespējas bibliotēkā). The collection was prepared by Māra Jēkabsone. The publication is a wide-ranging and comprehensive overview of the global history and examples of the canon concept, and gives an insight into the creation process for the Latvia’s Cultural Canon. It also includes valuable suggestions on the practical use of the Latvia’s Cultural Canon in library work.
Studies: