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Participatory workshops

10.09.2022. - 15.09.2022.

The Pauls Stradins Medicine History Museum in collaboration with the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art continues the Participatory Workshops launched in March this year, in which artists strive to promote public engagement in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the urban environment you will notice "kuš!" comic artists' instructions on what to do in different crisis situations. On the 10^th and 15^th of September, the museum will host a series of workshops and a discussion on "The Art of Conversation in Times of War", where you can learn crisis intervention skills under the guidance of experts and find out how art can help bring society together.

 

15.09. Discussion “The Art of Conversation in Wartime” 

On September 15, at 18:00, in the discussion "The Art of Conversation in Wartime", there will be possible to reflect on the experience gained in the Participatory Workshops as well as to focus on the role of contemporary art in solving socio-political issues and involving society in emergency situations. 

In the discussion, there will take part Secretary General of the Latvian Transatlantic Organization, the lecturer and researcher of the Department of Political Science of the University of Latvia Sigita Struberga, the philosopher, publicist and entrepreneur, assistant professor and leading researcher of the University of Latvia Igors Gubenko, the artist, activist and theater and cinema director Krista Burane, and the artist Kriss Salmanis. The conversation will be moderated by the director and curator of the Latvian Center for Contemporary Art Solvita Krese.

More information at Latvijas Laikmetīgās mākslas centrs. We invite you to follow the live broadcast on the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art-LCCA and Paula Stradiņa Medicīnas vēstures muzejs Facebook webpages.

 

Participatory workshop programme on Saturday, September 10 

11.00 – 11.30 First aid demonstration, Education Room
11.30 – 12.00 First Aid workshop, Education Room
12.00 – 14.00 Civil Defence and 72-h Bag workshop, Conference Hall
12.00 – 14.00 Museum tour for children in Latvian and Russian
12.00 – 16.00 Emergency First Aid Vehicle, garden
14.15 – 14.45 First aid demonstration, Education Room
14.45 – 15.15 First Aid workshop, Education Room

Participation in the workshops and visiting the museum on Saturday, September 10, is free. No prior booking is required. The museum will be open to visitors from 11.00 to 17.00. 

 

First Aid Demonstration and Workshop 

The Museum's Education Room will become a simulated and safe environment where, under the guidance of instructors, you can understand the first aid algorithm for adults and children. The workshop will use mannequins, automatic external defibrillators and first aid kits. After the instructor's demonstration, everyone will have the opportunity to apply first aid themselves and develop their first aid skills. The workshop is suitable for families with school-age children. 

The workshop is provided by the Riga Stradins University Medical Education Technology Centre, which is the most modern simulation centre in the Baltics. There, in a simulated clinical environment, future and practicing health care specialists learn and improve their work-related skills, thereby promoting patient safety and improving the quality of health care in Latvia. More about the centre here.

 

Emergency First Aid Vehicle  

The garden of the museum will host an emergency medical service (EMS) vehicle, commonly known as an ambulance. On display there will be the equipment of the crew, which is used by medical workers to save people's lives every day, namely, a medical bag, a defibrillator and a manual resuscitator. The medics may be asked about the practical organisation of work with this 25 kg equipment. The activity is suitable for both adults and children. 

 

Civil Defence and 72 h Bag Workshop 

In the Conference Hall, the senior expert in military education of the national defence training department, Senior Sergeant Erik Karkliņs will help to learn about the national action plan and instructions for every citizen on how to act in an emergency, when everyday life abruptly changes. There will also be a practical activity of packing a 72-h bag. 

In an emergency, the responsible services and armed forces will be implementing measures to overcome the threat, so everyone must be able to survive in the first days of the emergency, i.e., at least for 72 hours.

 

Data processing

In order to ensure correct processing of personal data of event visitors, we inform you that personal data of participants may be processed at the event - photos taken, video recording made. Your personal data may be used to ensure the legitimate interests of the Paula Stradiņš Medicinel History Museum - informing the public, as well as to ensure the museum's legitimate interests in communication, marketing and communications activities, including the preparation of material and posting on social media.

 

About Participatory workshops

In March 2022, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and in support of the Ukrainian people, the Medicine History Museum in collaboration with the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art (LCCA) organised a series of Participatory Workshops over the course of two weeks, where 15 artists explored and practised different forms of activism and protest, using a variety of contemporary art techniques. The aim of the workshops was to keep the discussion and protest at the Russian Embassy alive through creative practices and collaborative action, without letting the ongoing war sink into the oblivion of everyday matters. At the same time, the workshops became a space for politically engaged communal activity, fostering social unity and critical discussion about what was happening, and offering therapeutic cleansing through creative and meaningful activity.

As the war in Ukraine continues, it is important not to be silent and to remain active and reflective via culture, art, and history. Latvian society is going through a psychological crisis, in which various values and norms are being reassessed. Each of us has also had the opportunity to assess our knowledge and skills in responding to and aiding in crisis situations. Now, perhaps more than ever, it is necessary to regain the lost focus, to promote critical thinking, social cohesion and agency.

In September, the Medicine History Museum and LCCA continue the Participatory Workshop series, analysing and assessing what has changed in public attitudes and readiness over these months. The aim of the workshops is to inform the public about the guidelines for action in different crisis situations and to develop communication and crisis response skills through practical demonstrations by experts. Through workshops and artistic practice, we want to motivate reflection and discussion on the unity of society and its readiness to support each of its member, which will be summarised and publicly discussed in the final discussion of the series "The Art of Conversation in Times of War". In addition, throughout the urban environment you will notice instructions by the "kuš!" comic artists, which are illustrations of the booklet provided by the Ministry of Defence on what to do in the first 72 hours of a crisis. Leaflets and stickers of the instructions will be available for everyone to distribute in their neighbourhood. 

On the 10^th of September, the Medicine History Museum will host Participatory Workshops, where experts will teach you how to deal with a crisis, first aid and what to put in your 72-hour bag. On the 15^th of September, a closing discussion will be held on "The Art of Conversation in Times of War", reflecting on the experience gained during the Participatory Workshops and also focusing more broadly on the role of contemporary art in addressing socio-political issues and engaging the public in times of crisis.

The project " Participatory Workshops" is carried out by the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art and funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Programme "Active Citizens Fund".