The project “Latvia–Ukraine: Poetry Bridges” is a pilot project that has been implemented since 2025. Its aim is to promote cultural dialogue between Latvia and Ukraine by exploring the literary heritage of both nations, especially poetry, as well as to foster mutual understanding and cooperation among representatives of different cultures.
Poetry is one of the most vivid ways to get to know a people’s values, history, emotions, and identity. Within the project, participants have the opportunity to get to know the works of Latvian and Ukrainian poets, compare the literary traditions of both countries, listen to poetry readings, take part in discussions, and learn about the importance of translation in intercultural dialogue.
Within the project, we have already talked about the common and differing features of Latvian and Ukrainian folk oral traditions, getting to know Latvian dainas and Ukrainian folk songs, as well as their significance in the cultural heritage of both nations.
We have also turned our attention to the work of notable poets:
This year’s planned topics:
- Latvian dainas and Ukrainian folk songs – we will explore folk oral traditions, their history, and their significance in the culture of both nations; Dainas_ukrainiski.docx
- Ojārs Vācietis and Maksym Rylskyi – we will compare the work of two significant 20th-century poets and the experiences of their era;
- Women’s voices in poetry – we will get to know the creative work of contemporary Latvian and Ukrainian women poets and the importance of translation in bringing cultures closer together.
During the project, poetry is heard in Latvian and Ukrainian, translations of literary works are carried out, and creative meetings are organized, allowing participants not only to listen to poetry but also to understand its historical and cultural significance.
Evening host — Margarita Čerņenko, writer, translator, Candidate of Philological Sciences. Recipient of a VKKF creative scholarship for Ukrainian citizens.
We invite you to join the creative meetings and together build poetry bridges between Latvia and Ukraine!
