Latvian Academy of Sciences

INSTITUTE OF LITERATURE, FOLKLORE AND ART

Akademijas laukums 1, Riga, LV 1050
Tel.: (371)7229017. Fax: (371)7821153
E-mail: litfom@lza.lv

Director Dr. habil. filol. B.KALNACHS

The Institute was founded in 1946 as LAS Institute of Language and Literature. Under this name it functioned until 31 December 1991. On 1 January 1992, the departments of linguistic research seceded from the Institute and started their independent work as the Latvian Language Institute. The present name, Institute of Literature, Folklore, and Art, reflects the various directions of its activities.

The most important scholarly achievements are publication of J. Rainis' Collected Works in 30 volumes, the academic edition of Latvian folk songs, complete biographies of Latvian literary figures and development of a database, monographs on history of Latvian literature and the literary processes, history of Latvian theatre, development of the processes of art, theory of prose in Latvia, "Theory of Prose" in 3 volumes and other publications. Work on concise history of the Latvian literature is nearing completion.

Main Areas of Research

• Latvian literature, study of its history, trends, and genres viewed in context with literature of other European nations (V. Hausmanis, Full mem. LAS; V. Vavere, Full mem. LAS; B. Tabuns, Cor.mem. LAS; I. Kalnina). Formation of the database of scholars in the field of the Latvian literature (A. Rozkalne).
• Collection, preservation, systematization, and publication of Latvian folklore materials (K. Arajs, Full mem. LAS; M. Viksna, B. Reidzane, and Z. Sneibe). Theoretical evaluation of the ethical and aesthetic values of the Latvian folklore (D. Bula and J. Darbiniece).
• Development of various kinds of Latvian arts (R. Caupova and J. Zilgalvis). Historiography of art science (E. Grosmane). Evolvement of the lexicon of Latvian musicians (A. Klotins). Problems of development of theatre and cinema (G. Zeltina and J. Civjans).

In 1996, books prepared by 16 scholars of the Institute have been published; there were more than 150 publications in Latvia's and foreign editions.

An international conference "Art Nouveau in the Baltic Region: Time and Space" was organized in November 1996, an international conference "Post-Soviet Literary Contexts in the Baltic States"-in October 1996. The scholars of the Institute have participated at more than 15 scientific conferences.

The staff of the Institute have delivered lecture courses at 10 higher educational establishments in Latvia and abroad.

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Last update: 01-12-2005 18:54:01