ABOUT THE MUSEUM

The Meadow Museum is housed in an ancient building that once served as a school. Today, the association “Ūdenszīmes” has given new life to the space and its surroundings. The original exhibition is designed as a human life story, connected with nature and Latvian folk traditions.

A lesson in Latvian ethnography and sign reading can be experienced by looking at and “reading” the Kaldabruņa Mara belt. The “Vērdnieku Vainags” (Crown of the Wordsmiths) tells about ancient healing and psychology.

The multimedia exposition “Midnight in the Meadow” is an experience in itself. This video contains knowledge, images, sounds and landscapes that tell the story of those traditions of our people that are connected with the events after dusk. Birds flying in the night, little night dwellers stirring under the roots. Medicinal plants and, of course, the traditions of the Summer Solstice. The exhibition lasts 40 minutes in total, but you can also choose to watch a selection.

The exhibition can only be viewed with a guide.

MUSEUM TERRITORY

In the Meadow Museum area you can see the medicinal plant garden and specimen plantations of protected plants. There is a picnic area, attractive platforms in the trees, where it is even possible to organise a small choir concert.

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS AT THE MUSEUM

The association “Watermarks” offers complex creative activities for schoolchildren, adults, seniors. We can organise classes as separate events or as part of larger festivals. We adapt the story format to the needs of the audience, have all the necessary materials and equipment ready. One lesson lasts 1.5 – 2 hours.

Glass Bead Games.

In the workshop we make candle holders and light catchers from glass beads that we melt ourselves. All materials are prepared and it is recycled glass. We offer two stories at the beginning of the workshop: “Understanding Light in European Culture” or “The Secrets of the Colour Green”, but you can choose only one!

Workshop costs: for a group of up to 20 people EUR 200.00.

Signs and Meaning.

In this workshop we make decorations from birch plywood blanks printed with folk songs and patterns. To create the decoration, the workshop participant has to find three folk songs that correspond to the chosen pattern. The set includes 9 ornaments and 27 folk songs. The workshop is introduced by the story “What do the signs mean?”. This workshop is especially suitable for minority and mixed audiences to get acquainted with Latvian traditions in a warm and attractive way. For the Latvian audience, it will awaken forgotten knowledge and connect both emotionally and materially the lines of folk songs with the layout of signs.

Workshop costs: for a group of up to 20 people EUR 200.00.

We are developing our workshop offers and can adapt them to your event needs.

The Museum has glass and woodworking workshops available for demonstrations. You can watch how glass jewellery, plates, decor and wind chimes are made. Learn about processing technologies and materials. The woodworking workshop offers the most attractive laser engraving.

Practical workshops for participants:

• Glass “Light Catchers ” – fused glass, beads, glass paint and glue. The result is a home-made window decoration/vitrine. Suitable for children from 8 years. Cost EUR 7.00 per participant.
• Glass Wind Chimes. Preparations – fused glass, wooden base, string, wooden beads. The participant makes his/her own wind chime using the given materials. Suitable for children from 12 years, also for adults. Cost – EUR 15.00 per participant.
• Make your own magnet! Prepare a wooden magnet base, approx. 5 cm. 5 cm in diameter, paint, waterproof markers. The participant makes his/her own drawing on the magnet. Suitable for children from 6 years of age. Cost – EUR 2.00 per participant.

PRICES

• Entrance to the museum – EUR 3.00 per participant, which includes both the museum and the workshops, as well as a guide.
• Picnic area and outdoor seating free of charge for excursionists.
• Practical workshops – for a fee.

IMPORTANT

• This offer is best suited for children aged 8-14 years. Secondary school-age children – if they have specific interests in nature, creative industries and/or folk traditions.
• For first and second graders we offer a different programme.
• Preferred group size – maximum 30 people.

Photos from the archives of the association “Ūdenszīmes” .