AND LATERAL THINKING IN LATVIA…

Despite the economic crisis and reduction of the public funding, new initiatives have emerged. In Latvia, numerous non-commercial initiatives have been established, moreover the development of creative industry undertakings are supported by several projects, such as Duka and Brigade. Duka is the initiative of the Riga City Council addressing the issue of empty commercial properties in the Latvian capital and promoting entrepreneurship at the same time. It offers empty commercial space to entrepreneurs at no charge except the cost for utilities such as water and electricity. Thanks to cheaper rent opportunities, several streets in Riga are changing their profile: expensive shops and offices are replaced by artisan shops, artists' initiatives and cosy cafés. The Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art in collaboration with other partners have launched (2010) an innovative support programme “Brigade” granting administrative and financial support to creative and financially sustainable proposals for the development of local communities.