Riga Art Week (RAW), an exciting new city-wide art festival, aims to foster collaboration among art institutions, galleries, and creatives, highlighting Riga’s role as a new cultural hub. With a diverse programme catering to art professionals and the broader public, RAW offers a vibrant platform for contemporary art, cultural development, and public engagement, reinforcing Riga's image as a creative and evolving city.
The week-long festival will feature a diverse range of events and activities:
26, 27, and 28 May: The first half of the week will be dedicated to art and culture professionals, offering panel discussions, networking events, and workshops aimed at fostering professional growth and collaboration opportunities.
29 May: Gallery Late - more than 20 galleries and art spaces will remain open until late, offering exclusive events including curator-led tours, meetings with artists and the opportunity to network with members of the art community in an informal, relaxed atmosphere.
30 May: RAW will officially open with a special event featuring well-known artists and special guests - Emilija Škarnulytė (Lithuania), duo Domenique Dumont (Latvia), Kitty Florentine and Viktoria Martjanova (Estonia) - kicking off a weekend filled with art, culture and conversation.
31 May and 1 June: Various exhibitions, workshops, talks and pop-up events will be held across the city, including the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art's 25th anniversary programme, and special programmes for families with children at the Latvian National Museum of Art.
Throughout the festival, the focus will be on integrating contemporary art into the urban fabric of Riga, with events spread across both established cultural venues and emerging creative neighbourhoods, such as Grizindarzs, Veldze and more.