Calendar

The people of Riga and its visitors will be able to celebrate the second anniversary of the Fashion Museum and the 100 years anniversary of Latvia with the new exhibitions of the museum entitled “1918. The Luxury of Freedom”.

The LNSO concert tour of Europe culminates on 23 October with a performance at the Philharmonie de Paris, one of the citadels of European Classical Music.

Arthur Analts’ interactive installation Matter to Matter which represented Latvia at the London Design Biennale 2018 and won the Best Design Medal, will be on view at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in Riga.

When Dad takes his seven-year-old son Jēkabs from a spacious flat in the Quiet Center of Riga to the city’s squalid Moscow District to spend his summer there, the inquisitive boy discovers a previously unknown world. He meets his uncle, the former seaman Ērglis, and his niece, the self-confident know-it-all Mimmi.

This exhibition gives an overview of the portrait, its classification and development, compositional determinants, and stylistic variations. It portrays the characteristic iconography of the 20th century, which, in comparison to the historical portrait, is closed to the contemporary aesthetic.

The final concert (a cinema concert) in the cycle "The Ring of Latvia".

Ten-year-old Zigis lives with his parents in Ķīpsala in a house by the Daugava River. In 1942 Latvia is occupied by German troops, and repressions of Jews begin in Riga.Zigis’ father, Žanis Lipke, devises a plan of saving the Jews who work at the factory and are destined for death.This experience gradually transformes Zigis into a mature teenager.

The Archives of Latvian Folklore in cooperation with Office Latvia 100 and Radio Latvia opened a long lasting crowd-sourcing event for folklore manuscript transcription, called "Simtgades burtnieki" (Wizards of Centenary).

While waiting for Latvia's centenary celebration on 18 November 2018, we are happy to present the collection of 100 natural wonder of Latvia – through our uniq travel stories, little bit of historical research and photography.

The National Encyclopaedia is a universal-knowledge, popular-science resource in the Latvian language being compiled on the basis of academic principles.

The campaign "A Special Book for a Special Bookshelf" is an opportunity for everyone to donate a book – of special importance to themselves – to the National Library of Latvia, also writing a message or personal story relating to the book on its title page.

To learn about Latvia, take a trip along the seven paths to the idea of Latvian statehood - the Livs Road, Jacob's path, Freedom Road, the Baltic Way, the Path of the Daugava, the Path of Light, and Māra's Path. These are tourist routes filled with fascinating places, rich farmsteads, and beautiful landscapes.

As a part of the initiative "LV100 Great Trees" (LV100 Dižošanās) everyone is invited to go outside and help find the Great Trees that have yet to be discovered, and, with the help of a special test, to find out which Great Tree best suits your personality.

The programme Latvian Films for Latvian Centenary features 16 long films including six feature films, two animated films and eight documentaries. This initiative is honouring the centenary of Latvia.

The Latvian Lap of Honour is a program of events to help us discover the different regions of Latvia through their cultural heritage, traditions, historical and contemporary personalities, nature, and achievements.

Young playwright Andris Ūdris' professional debut - his play "I Promise" won third place in the Latvian National Theatre's Centenary competition.

The film tells the story of four girls who spend their summer holidays in the countryside. The year is 1989 and the TV news is reporting a state of emergency in Latvia. The girls, who have been left with no adult supervision, prepare for war.

This performance brings to life several of Latvian author and playwright Rūdolfs Blaumanis' lesser-known works - Spījēnos (In Spījēni), Romeo un Jūlija (Romeo and Juliet), Nauda zeķēs (Saving Money), Laimes klēpī (In the Lap of Fortune), Īsta līgaviņa (The Real Bride), and others.

A production dedicated to Russian-American actor director, author, and theatre practitioner Mikhail Chekhov, after whom the Riga Russian theatre was named. Although archival materials were used in the creation of the show, the authors sought to create a balance between history and legend, facts and fantasy.

The Business Information Centre “Magnetic Latvia” at Riga International Airport has been designed to serve as a stopover for foreign and local guests, be it a businessmen or a diplomat, where one can receive first-hand information from the staff of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia about business opportunities and top tourist attractions

A film about life in Latvia through the eyes of five first graders is the beginning of a project that will continue to evaluate social and political processes in Latvia from their perspective throughout the years.

A poignant, life-affirming, and funny story for the whole family about seven-year-old Bille's adventures in Latva during the 1930s. The story is based on Latvian author, the Nobel Prize candidate, Vizma Belševica's autobiographical novel of the same name.

Project inspired by very popular social network account “Humans of New York” tells about Humans of Avotu Street based in Riga, Latvia.

A romantic drama about dreams of realising oneself, based on Latvian author Rudolfs Blaumanis' play "Skroderdienas silmačos" (A Wedding in Silmači).

A story about a unique phenomenon in the history of cinema - Baltic school of poetic documentary and its creators - filmmakers from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia who broke the dogmatic poster-like propaganda documentary tradition in Soviet Union in the 1960s by creating films that were totally different: humane, meaningful, and poetic.

At the end of the Second World War, when the German army retreated from Latvia, it also took along 700 boxes of materials from Latvian museums. If not for a young woman named Mērija Grīnberga, the exhibition halls of many museums in Latvia would be empty today.

The exhibition Latvia’s Century is a joint contribution of Latvian museums to reveal 100 years of Latvia and to provide an opportunity to see excellent historical objects stored at the museums in all regions of Latvia – Kurzeme, Sēlija, Vidzeme, Zemgale and Riga.

More than 60 streets, boulevards, and squares in Latvia have been given the name Freedom. Two events will take place in 9 Latvian cities. The main message of the events is "From freedom to freedom". Events will give insight and appreciation for Latvia and what has happened in its past 100 years.

As part of a tourist promotion campaign the inhabitants of Latvia will be invited to travel around Latvia and to become acquainted with the periods of history important to Latvia through seven different journeys of statehood.

DZIEDAM VISI VIENU DZIESMU is a studio recording by the Tērvetes Trubadūri and represents our gift to Latvia on her centenary. It includes a variety of Latvian songs expressing our belonging to the country of our ancestors.

These festivals promote the civic participation among young people and initiatives for creating a supportive environment, learning from best practice examples, and facilitating cooperation between educational institutions, municipalities, and local communities.

A popular science documentary film – a historical reconstruction with dramatic elements tells about the 13th-century Baltic peoples who later formed the Latvian nation.

The series of articles “What Latvian museums remember” published in the online magazine “Satori” will be an educational and enjoyable literary cycle of publications on six Latvian memorial museums, compiled by cultural researcher and publisher Ieva Viese-Vigula and poet Arvis Viguls.

5D cinema "Look at Riga" offers a fantastic flight over Rtour around the urban environment, where the city’s historical charm together with the zealous rhythm of modern metropolis is caught, meanwhile viewing its most significant historical, art and architectural objects from another point of view.

Each of the historical regions of Latvia - Kurzeme, Latgale, Vidzeme, Zemgale, and greater Riga - will be represented by ten 'jewels'. In each of these five locations displays portraying the ten most significant landscapes for each region will be on display.

BURNING CONSCIENCE will be permanent exhibition on the resistance of the people of the former Cēsis apriņķis (District) against the Soviet and Nazi occupations 1940 – 1957. The Exbition will be open to the public from 23 August 2018.

A play for children and their parents about a boy who has been given a wondrous opportunity to travel through time. On his journey he meets his parents and grandparents at the age he is now. The boy faces his past and his ancestors in order to find the way back to himself and to the essence of who he his.

Mikelsons` works display Riga`s architecture from a totally different perspective. His artwork evokes romantic memories of Riga`s past, featuring buildings and streets that no longer exist or that have radically changed their appearance. More than 60 works will be exhibited.

These lectures have been organised to inform the community about the development of medicine, broad opportunities, problems, and personalities not only during the early years of the formation of the Latvian state, but also by following these processes through various periods.

The exhibit celebrates diaspora Latvian diversity, accomplishments and multi-faceted connections to Latvia. It forms a symbolic connection between Latvians throughout the world, showing migration as part of the Latvian story and the complicated formation and evolution of ethnic and national identity.

Sculptor Gļebs Panteļejevs has created an interactive sculptural composition dedicated to the outstanding coach of the 1935 Dream Team Valdemārs Baumanis, and the Basketball Basket of Glory, which symbolises the greatest achievements of Latvian basketball teams, their coaches, and individual players.

In honour of Latvia’s Centenary on November 18, the Latvian Institute is inviting the diaspora schools to prepare and send special greeting cards in the form of Latvian traditional mittens for the seniors who live in social care centres in Latvia.

The significance of Kurts Fridrihsons reaches beyond the importance of his art because during the Soviet period there were not many personalities refusing to comply with the regime while at the same time being outstanding artists. He was a model and inspiration for many people whose spiritual world refused to accept the existing system.

This exhibition reflects the work of the Latvian Red Cross over the course of one hundred years from 1918 to the present day.

This performance is dedicated to a vital period in the formation of the Latvian state - the historical events of 1919 on the steamship Saratov, where the Latvian Provisional National Council took refuge for six long months.

In commemoration of Latvia’s centenary year, the exhibition will look at the growth of the idea of an independent Latvia in the texts and philosophy of Rainis. It also reveals the circumstances in which Rainis develops the idea of independant Latvia.

This exhibition features a selection of works by contemporary artists from Eastern Europe of the Balkans. It is the final event of an international cooperation project. Michal Novotny, director at the FUTURA Center for Contemporary Art in Prague, is the curator of the exhibition.

For the first time, the Baltic Triennial will take place in the three Baltic countries. Opening at the CAC in Vilnius, Lithuania in May 2018, June 2018 at Tallinn Art Hall, Estonia, and September 2018 at Kim? Riga, Latvia. The three distinct exhibitions act as different chapters to form the Triennial.

The year is 1938. The poor artist Juris Upenājs arrives in Riga from the countryside, while at the same time the refined Eižens Žibeika returns from his painting session in Paris in the hope of receiving a considerable inheritance from his uncle.

The Pauls Stradiņš Museum of History of Medicine will unveil a new installation honouring the doctors and medical professionals who have invested so much in the development of Latvian medicine and caring for Latvian society. New stars will continue to be added until the avenue of 100 stars is complete.

This website is a guide for exploring the 100-year history of Latvia. Here you will find information on the most significant tourist attractions, museums and memorial sites in Riga where you will be able to learn important facts about Latvia’s history, from the foundation of the Latvian state to nowadays.

The travelling exhibition offers visitors an unprecedented insight into the writing and publishing that took place the between the two world wars with the opportunity to see the wide variety of publications printed between 1920 - 1930 in the three Baltic countries.

The exhibition provides an introduction to the Finnish Jaegers, a military unit founded during World War I.

We have man things in common with our neighbours Estonians but surprisingly enough this does not apply to contemporary performing arts. In the centre of the LATEST programme is a new collaborative work The First to Leave by eight Latvian and Estonian artists.

The story of the idealistic teacher and poet Violet and social democratic fighter Pelēkais, whose fates intertwine during the revolution of 1905

A group exhibition by young contemporary artists from Latvia and France (curators - Barbara Sirieix and Joachim Hamou). The theoretical essay Active Art (Aktīvā māksla) by Latvian poet, author, and doctor Andrejs Kurcijs (1884 - 1959) serves as the basis for the exhibition.

This exhibition provides an overview of the powerful symbols of Latvia's national and local visual identity - coats of arms - in all of the Latvian historical regions: Kurzeme, Latgale, Vidzeme, and Zemgale.

Using the geographically longest coastal village in the country as a metaphor, “Homeland” is a constructed and multi-layered story of the birthplace of a human being, memories and the journey of a life.

The final concert (a cinema concert) in the cycle "The Ring of Latvia".

This cycle of events is dedicated to one of the periods in the process of the creation of the Latvian state - for six months in 1919 the Latvian provisional government lives and worked on the steamship Saratov just off the coast of Liepāja.

Hotel Pro Forma and Latvian Radio Choir continue the award-winning collaboration in a new visual music performance. NeoArctic is stimulating, poetic, and moving musical performance about the Anthropocene - our new geological age, characterised by unprecendented impact on the Earth's ecosystems.

A story about the KGB archive and the evaluation of history in the renewed Latvia.

Shortly before the centenary celebration - 8 November 2018 in Arēna Rīga for the first and only time in Latvia's history a unique rock opera Lāčplēsis performance will take place. This will be a grand event as it will join together a specially assembled symphonic orchestra but also the united Latvian Nation's Choir.

The highly esteemed Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra performs with the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music Orchestra, pianist Yefim Bronfman and conductor Danielle Gatti.

In the wait of Latvia's centenary, the grand concert Latvijas gadsimts (Latvian Century) will be taking place in Arēna Rīga. The concert will bring Latvia's most popular actors and singers to the stage, lead by director Jānis Mūrnieks and will take everyone on a musical journey covering a century.

A permanent interactive exhibition for children and young people about the historical events of the Latvian War for Independence that allow visitors to try out the technical and visual possibilities now available with technology and model building.

This exhibition tells the story of the years 1918-1919 in Cēsis, the Latvian Provisional Government, and other significant events (such as the story of the Flag of Latvia) that facilitated the creation of the Republic of Latvia during the 20th century.

In 2017 the Orchestra Rīga began a new tradition, the Three Star Festival, which takes place in November and is dedicated to Latvia's State Centenary. Each year the festival plans three special concerts where music created by Latvian composers is thematically tied to a particular event in Latvian history.

This unique Concert/Oratorio weaves a story out of text excerpts from Baltic German activist Garlieb Merkel's historical work The Latvians, and poet Vizma Belševica's volume Indriķis Latvian Notes in the Margins of the Livonian Chronicle put to music by beloved Latvian composer and vocalist Niks Matvejevs in 1988.

Performances for school-age children that will allow them to travel one hundred years into the past to get a sense of the period and imagine themselves as those strategically-minded activists working to found a new state, as adventuresome youth or random bystanders, who were on the spot when Latvian independence was proclaimed.

Within the framework of the Riga Photography Biennial 2018 Marie Sjøvold solo exhibition "They Crept into Their Father’s Sleep" will be on view in Liepāja Museum.

The title of the exhibition is a reference to the anthology by Rainis, “END & BEGINNING”. The poet explains the introductory part of the anthology, “Coming to Your Senses”, in this way: “A person comes to one’s senses, and realizes the necessity to look for the meaning of existence”.

In the wait of Latvia's centenary, the grand concert Latvijas gadsimts (Latvian Century) will be taking place in Arēna Rīga. The concert will bring Latvia's most popular actors and singers to the stage, lead by director Jānis Mūrnieks and will take everyone on a musical journey covering a century.

Each year on 11 November, the Latvian Museum of National History displays the only known complete set of Order of Lāčplēsis, which were received by Jānis Balodis (1882 - 1965) for his outstanding service during the Latvian War for Independence. The Museum has planned a wide range of special exhibitions in honour of Lāčplēsis Day.

The Latvian Radio Choir tours the US and Canada, performing Latvian and Nordic choral music and introducing North American to current trends in Latvian music. The choir demonstrates its vocal quality and brings the characteristic colour and timbre to performances of Latvian and world masterpieces.

Latvian musicians perform a work by the country’s leading contemporary composer inspired by his country’s landscapes and ending, as he describes, ‘with a vision of nature awakening’.

This concert programme dedicated to the Lithuanian State Centenary includes choral songs composed through the Latvian Composers for the Latvia's Centenary initiative, in which eighty Latvian composers were invited to compose a capella songs for choir portraying the five elements in music: fire, water, earth (The Fatherland), sky, and love.

The new exhibition Gold. Silver. Bronze will be opened 16 November 2018 in the Latvian Sports Museum. The exhibition is made in collaboration with the Latvian Olympic Committee. The goal is to gift 628 Olympians, that have won 123 medals ( 31 gold, 54 silver, 38 bronze) in summer, winter and Paralympic games, this Hall of Fame for Latvia's centenary.

Each year the Les Boreales Art Festival takes place in the city of Caen in the region of Normandy. Literature, music, art, theatre, performances, films, gastronomy, and everything new from the northern Europe that can inspire people of France is represented at the festival. For 2018 the focus will be on the Baltic states - Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

This exhibition seeks to characterise Latvian cultural values through decorative art and design from the period 1918 - 2018. The selected examples of art and design have stood the test of time and can be considered an expression of the values of the Latvian Cultural Canon.

The exhibition will display Nīmanis' functional designs and glass sculptures, which the artist created through his use of traditional glasswork techniques in combination with innovative technologies.

The Latvian National Opera celebrates the State Centenary and its own 100th anniversary with an ambitious Gala Concert that will include performances by world-class Latvian opera stars and famous guest soloists from abroad who have performed at the Latvian National Opera and acted as emissaries of Latvia to the world.

The first Staro Rīga festival took place in 2008, celebrating Latvia's 90th anniversary. The tradition continues as each year Riga's streets, buildings, parks, and courtyards are decorated with light on Latvia's birthday.

This is the story of Latvia, presented as never before through music, dance, and the magic technology.

On the day when the Republic of Latvia celebrates 100 years since the proclamation of statehood, one of the most well-known water falls – Niagara Falls – situated on the border of New York State in the United States and Province of Ontario in Canada, will be lit up in the colours of the Latvian flag.

The biggest Charity ball in Latvia on the evening of 17th November, to celebrate together Latvia’s Centenary and 150th Anniversary of the Riga Latvian Society.

On 18 November 1918 the People’s Council of Latvia declared Latvian Independence in what is now the Latvian National Theatre. Today we celebrate Latvia’s State Centenary with friends and family, in city streets and squares, in Latvia and everywhere around the world.

A special holiday programme including thematic excursions, lectures, and workshops has been organized for museum visitors on the anniversary of the proclamation of Latvian independence.

The traditional torch procession, concert, and viewing of the beautiful nature show - sunset over the River Daugava.

After the light show that will take place on the 11th November Embankment, the churches and concert halls of Riga's Old Town invite visitors to attend free concerts with performances by musicians and soloists from the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra.

A visual poem about Latvia as the daughter of the Sun, who is born in darkness, gets kidnapped but is later released to blossom like a beautiful flower in eternity.

Join us to celeberate Latvia 100! Wear a pair of colourful mittens on 18 November 2018!

Go out onto the balcony from which Latvian independence was proclaimed, stand on the stage where Vilis Rīdzenieks captured his famous photograph of the people involved in this historic event. And, as on any birthday, there will be music and performances, with the LNT actors acting as hosts to get the party going.

Concerts in Sweden's three cities performed by accordionist Ksenija Sidorova and the Sinfonietta Rīga Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Normunds Šnē. The programme includes Estonian composer Erkki-Sven Tuur's Prophecy for Acordeon and Orchestra, Austrian composer Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 104, and Linda Leimane's chamber symphony Guesstimations.

"Es esmu Gaisma 100" is the ceremony of inner peace and meditation through exploring the feeling that each of us is a light, and with our inner light we can brighten up our families, friends and larger communities.

Inspired by the abstract expressionist period of one of the last century’s most revered visual artists, ten Latvian composers respond to the intensely moods and deep colours of paintings that Mark Rothko – whose own roots stem from a Latvian childhood – called ‘the soul status portrayals’.

VPDK RADI traditional folk dance concert as a gift to Latvia on its 100th birthday. This will be beautiful event for dancers and they beloved ones, also for concert audience to feel Latvians unity and strength.

The Baltic Symphony Orchestra is an invaluable ambassador for Baltic collaboration. The symphony orchestras of all three organising countries will appear together on a single stage.

“Maris Briezkalns Quintet” is one of the leading and interesting small acoustic mainstream bands on the Latvian jazz scene.

he Digital Freedom Festival is a boutique, yet influential signature event. Around a thousand participants will discuss the latest trends and discoveries in digital technologies, as well as their impact on startups and corporations, policymaking, and modern lifestyles.

Special events will take place in Latgale, Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Zemgale, and Riga to honour Latvia's volunteers - people who have devoted their time and their skills to enhance the quality of life for the people around them, improve the environment, and help achieve goals that are important for Latvian society.

The conference will address the history of Latvia in the 19th century when it was under the political and administrative authority of the Russian Empire as the empire’s western provinces.

The Australian Latvian Arts Festival is Australia's largest celebration of Latvian culture. The Festival spans 6 days and comprises of Latvian dance, song, theatre and much more. The Festival begins on the 26th of December, 2018 in Adelaide, South Australia.