Last autumn Intangible Cultural Heritage State Agency launched a unique Project Traditional skills school which had to support and develop inheritance and promotion of the folk traditional skills in Latvia. In order to deepen and expand knowledge about traditional culture of the historical regions of Latvia, this year Traditional skills school was organized in separate historical regions. Four consecutive Saturdays in spring in frames of Traditional skills school 2010 – from March 27 till April 17 – their skills demonstrated craftsmen in Selija (region called also Augšzeme /Highland/, Augškurzeme /High Kurzeme/, Augšgals, Sēla, Sēlene) and Zemgale. In twelve towns and villages of those ethnographic regions craftsmen offered to master ancient skills. Those workshops were intended for all interested persons free of charge. Skills and crafts in frames of the project were mastered by 745 apprentices.

Venues of Traditional skills school 2010:

 Bēne – Weaving of Zemgale cape;

Dobele - Embroydery, sewing of Zemgale shirt;

Jelgava – Knotting;

Staļģene – Weaving of straw wall blanket;

Daugmale – Apiculture;

Jaunjelgava - Woodcarving, spoon carving;

Sēlpils - Sēlpils and Vārnava dressing songs;

Jēkabpils – Wax candle making, forging skills;

Zasa - Sēļi pottery and ornament;

Nereta - Highland skirt weaving;

Ilūkste - Sēļi ornament in mittens and socks;

Aknīste - Sēļi flat-bread and rye-bread baking.

Students of the Latvian Academy of Culture documented (described, photographed, and shot films) craftsmen activities.

 Craftsmen and their apprentices gathered in the closing event on April 24 in Jēkabpils, in Kruspils castle, for the demonstration of the crafts and concert and showing respect to the craftsmen. Closing event in Jēkabpils was attended also by the President Valdis Zatlers who expressed his acknowledgement to the craftsmen.

Next Traditional skills school is scheduled for the coming autumn in Latgale.