Dace Melbārde
Photo: Zane Bitere / LETA
One of Liepaja’s “extremely strong resources” in the cultural sector is the Liepaja Theater, and it is very important for both the city and the state to find resources and help the Liepaja Theater overcome the crisis, former Minister of Culture Dace Melbārde said in an interview with Rietumu Radio (VL-TB / LNNK ).
Melbārde reminded that during the previous financial crisis, Liepāja municipality and the state agreed that the state would take responsibility for the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, while the city would take full responsibility for the Liepāja Theater.
“For many years, the Liepāja Theater has also been maintained and cherished by the municipality, and the theater building has also been maintained,” said Melbārde, who served as Minister of Culture from October 2013 to June 2019.
Melbārde admitted that during her activity on the part of the state, therefore, there were no plans to take back the Liepāja theater under the auspices of the state, and the Liepāja municipality had not shown such an initiative either.
“I do not remember serious conversations on this topic,” Melbard said.
LETA has already reported that in case Liepāja Theater does not receive financial support to eliminate the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis, it may have to suspend its operation already in October. Liepāja Theater is a municipal capital company, therefore it did not receive financial support from the government to eliminate the consequences of the crisis caused by Covid-19.
Negotiations are currently underway between Liepāja Municipality and the Ministry of Culture on the possibility of finding financing for the operation of the theater.
