In 2016 the Latvian Ethnographic Exhibition commemorates its 120th anniversary. The exhibition was held in Rīga in 1896, in the framework of the 10th All-Russian Archaeological Congress. In the 19th century ethnography, which at that time included both history and physical anthropology, in Central and Eastern Europe became a peculiar way of expressing nation’s identity and uniqueness. Considering the traditional cultural heritage as the cornerstone of the national identity, the tangible and intangible heritage was gathered, preserved and investigated and it became an important component of the agenda of national movements. At the end of the 19th century a number of museums were founded in European countries and grand exhibitions were organised promoting the nations’ longstanding, richness, originality and splendour of culture. The abolishment of serfdom, increase of education level also brought to Latvians the realization of the value of Latvian history, culture, language; and also the understanding of need to identify, preserve, display and see the nation’s spiritual and material heritage. In 1896 the Latvian ethnographic exhibition became the largest event of representing Latvian nation, its history, culture and current achievements at the end of the 19th century. It is an important milestone in the history of Latvian ethnography and formation of Latvian museums and their expositions. To commemorate the anniversary of the Latvian Ethnographic Exhibition and to assess its contribution to the Latvian history research, the National History Museum of Latvia (NHML) creates the exhibition and organizes an international scientific conference “Individual. History. Nation. The 120th Anniversary of the Latvian Ethnographic Exhibition.” The conference will be held in Rīga, Brīvības bulvāris 32, in the conference hall of the National History Museum of Latvia on October 26, 2016
The museum calls for papers on the following themes:
– Importance of the Rīga Latvian Society’s activities in the process of Latvian nation formation and other aspects of nation formation in Latvia in comparison with other Central and Eastern European territories in the 19th century.
– Discovery of the 19th century – ambitious exhibitions – as predecessors and sources of inspiration of the Latvian Ethnographic Exhibition – ethnographic exhibition in Moscow in 1867, Czech’s ethnographic exhibition in Prague in 1895 and others.
– The organisation of the Latvian Ethnographic Exhibition: the initiators, organizers and supporters, the collecting of exhibits (ethnographic expeditions organized by the Rīga Latvian Society, their members, the collectors and senders of the ethnographic items from the regions, the support of various societies), preparation of theatrical scenes of Latvian seasonal customs.
– Latvian Ethnographic Exhibition and young generation of Latvian artists, scientists, collectors.
– Latvian Ethnographic Exhibition and the 10th All-Russian Archaeological Congress.
Please send the application form until February 20, 2016 to Artūrs Tomsons (via e-mail arturs.tomsons@lnvm.lv). Confirmation of the participation in the conference will be sent by February 29.
The length of the paper – 20 minutes. The working languages of the conference: Latvian, English, Russian.
There will be an opportunity to publish the presented paper in the collected articles of the National History Museum of Latvia. Information about the application and sending the article for publication will be presented separately.