On the 7^th of June the “3B Conference for Creative Associations – Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia” organized by the Council of Creative Unions of Latvia took place in Riga, Latvia. Creatives from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia gathered to share their experience, best practices, and discuss the culture policy issues in all three Baltic states.

Together we discussed the current situation and “good examples” in each country, namely, how the Law of Creative Persons has functioned in Latvia in its first two years and what benefits it has given; what have been the recent changes in the Lithuanian culture policy and how it affects artists; and about Estonian Writers and Artists salary system – an opportunity for a professionals at their creative peak to receive a salary for a specific period of time so they could dedicate themselves to creative work for a longer period of time plus, in comparison with a grant, get all social securities.

At the second part of the conference participants had the opportunity to hear about two great funding programs – Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme For Culture by Ginta Tropa from Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia and Baltic Culture Fund by Katrin Seppel from Eesti Kulturkapital.

The conference was finished with three workshops discussing different case studies – a successful culture lobbying by Māra Vaivode, the chairwoman of the board of Latvian Association of Architects; Dos and Don’ts of a cooperation of creative unions on a Baltic level by Kornelijus Platelis, Lithuanian Association of Artists; and about benefits of the financing system of Estonian theatres by Kristen Simmo, Estonian Theatre Union.

Conference gave not only insights in the work of creative unions and general culture policies in all Baltic states, but also was a place of great networking between creative unions with collaboration opportunities on a Baltic level in the future.

In the conference met representatives from Lithuanian Association of Artists, Lithuanian Theatre Union, Lithuanian Writers’ Union, The Lithuanian Association of Literary Translators, Lithuanian Union of Journalists, Professional Folk Artists’ Association, Union of Lithuanian Art Photographers, Lithuanian Musicians’ Union, as well as Estonian Writers Union, Estonian Filmmakers Union, Estonian Journalist Union, Estonian Visual Artists Union, Estonian Theatre Union, Estonian Dance Artists and Dance Educational Union together with the Council of Creative Union of Latvia, Latvian Composers Union, Latvian Designers Society, The Artists Union of Latvia, Latvian Association of Architects, Latvia's Theatre Labour Association, Latvian Writer's Union and Latvian Filmmakers Union.

Find attached the program of the conference and all presentations below: