From May 26 to June 1, a new contemporary art festival Riga Art Week (RAW) will take place in Riga.
RAW is envisioned as a celebration for both art professionals and city residents, offering a diverse range of contemporary art exhibitions, performances, and pop-up events across more than 25 art spaces throughout Riga.
Riga Art Week Official Opening
The official opening of RAW will take place on Friday, May 30, from 7:00 PM at the creative city Grīziņdārzs, located at Zemitāna iela 9, Riga. Entrance to the event is free.
Evening Program:
- 19:00 Doors open
- 19:30 Opening speeches
- Throughout the evening: Eternal Return — video installation by Emilija Škarnulytė (Lithuania)
- 20:00 Performance – Kitty Florentine (Estonia)
- 21:30 Concert – Domenique Dumont (Latvia)
During the opening event, and through the weekend on May 31 and June 1, visitors will be able to view Emilija Škarnulytė’s video installation Eternal Return – a visually poetic work exploring the future of humanity, the infinity of time, and our deep connection to nature. The piece was first presented at the Tate Modern in London.
Estonian artist Kitty Florentine will present a new performance titled Balance. Balance is in motion. It is felt within the continuous waves of movement, expansion, growth and change. In this performance, she explores balance in the process of motion, sound and connection, letting it reveal the feeling before the knowing – in collaboration with Viktorija Martjanova, whose installation invites you to visualise and sense the mycelial web that connects our everlasting journey of arrival.
RAW’s special guests – Domenique Dumont – will present their newest album Deux Paradis live in Latvia for the first time during the opening evening. The group, formed by multi-instrumentalist and producer Artūrs Liepiņš and vocalist and ethnomusicologist Anete Stuce, is internationally recognized for their dreamlike experimental sound, blending samba, bossa nova, and cinematic, experimental pop melodies.
After the official opening, from 11:00 PM, the celebration will continue at Zuzeum Art Centre with the event series Penthaus Calling VOL. 7. The event series focuses on electronic music, bringing together emerging and established artists in unique, carefully chosen venues throughout the city.
RAW Conversations
RAW ConversationsOn Thursday, May 29, from 16:00 to 17:00, at the Art Academy of Latvia, Riga Art Week will host “RAW Conversations” – “Taming the Unicorn: Art Gallery Ecosystem in the Baltics” – a panel discussion focused on contemporary art galleries in the Baltic region. Under the moderation of curator Auguste Petre, participants will explore the importance and positioning of contemporary art support structures and reflect on the role of Baltic art initiatives in today’s cultural landscape. Admission is free.
Panel participants:
- Lilian Hiob-Küttis, curator and gallerist (Hoib Gallery, Estonia; formerly Temnikova & Kasela)
- Justė Jonutytė, art advisor, educator, and writer (Lithuania)
- Elīna Drāke, gallerist, Chair of the Galleries Association of Latvia (Latvia)
- Šelda Puķīte, exhibition curator and international project manager at Kogo Gallery (Estonia / Latvia)
Gallery Late: 25 Art Spaces Across Riga
On Thursday, May 29, Riga Art Week invites you to experience Gallery Late – a special evening when 25 art spaces across the city will open their doors for extended hours, offering an exciting lineup of events including curator-led tours, artist talks, and the chance to connect with the local and international art community in a relaxed, informal setting.
- As part of Gallery Late, visitors will have the opportunity to see the installation “Meatrack” by curator James Taylor-Foster and architectural studio ĒTER.
- At LOOK! gallery, Sabīne Zoltnere will open her solo exhibition “Sheltering Ballad” – a visual meditation on grief and memory.
- Multiple exhibitions across the city will spotlight both local and international contemporary artists. Highlights include: Bob Demper’s (Netherlands) solo show “This Machine” at TUR gallery, which explores the invisible infrastructures of AI and financial systems through a speculative installation; Nelly Agassi’s exhibition “Aftermath” at Kim? Contemporary Art Centre, presenting recent works by the US-based artist; and Akiko Iijima’s solo exhibition “Premonition” at DOM gallery, offering a glimpse into the poetic and introspective world of the Japanese artist.
Music Short Film “A Dog’s Gaze” in collaboration with Bel Tempo
To mark the opening of Creative Factory “Veldze”’s summer event series “Veldzes vasara”, and in collaboration with Riga Art Week, a special screening of the music short film “A Dog’s Gaze” will take place on May 29 at 21:30 at Matīsa iela 8. Directed by Ieva Aleksa and creatively produced by Filips Šmits, the film was created in collaboration with electronic music duo Bel Tempo (Jūlijs Melngailis and Andis Ansons). This hybrid work blends cinema and music, offering an alternative view of Riga — through everyday gestures, familiar scenes, and fleeting moments that together form an intimate portrait of the city as seen through the lens of a new generation. The cast includes Kārlis Arnolds Avots, Ieva Estere Barkāne, Katrīna Juhna, and singer Elīza Legzdiņa.
Following the screening, at 22:00, guests are invited to stay for a mini-concert by Bel Tempo in the courtyard of the former soda factory.
Creative factory Veldze is a new development project in Riga’s historic center, aiming to transform the former beverage factory into a modern, aesthetic, and dynamic cultural hub — a vibrant platform for locals, artists, and city visitors alike.
Backdoor Market: Is This Even Art? Pop-up Gallery
For just four days, from May 28 to May 31, Backdoor Market at the Creative Factory Veldze will become a hub for ideas, genuine conversations, and a new generation of street culture. The pop-up exhibition “Is This Even Art?” explores the blurred lines between street culture, fashion, and art, challenging traditional notions of what art is and where usual boundaries end.
Blending photography, clothing, graffiti, and art, the exhibition brings together artists from the Baltics who reinterpret the concept of art while preserving the raw spirit of street culture. Admission to the event is free.
SALONS x RAW: Art as a Catalyst for Urban Change with Swedish Girls and James Taylor-Foster
On Saturday, May 31 at 7:00 PM, the event series SALONS will present a special episode #7 in collaboration with RAW, where the creative duo Swedish Girls and James Taylor-Foster will discuss how art can act as a catalyst for transforming public spaces. They will explore inclusive, design-focused approaches to creating public spaces that stimulate both individual and collective action in the city. Swedish Girls is an artist duo based between Milan and Stockholm, working across objects and installations with a conceptual and experimental approach. James Taylor-Foster is a curator at ArkDes in Stockholm.
The event is organized by the Latvian Academy of Arts Institute of Contemporary Art, Design and Architecture (LMDA) together with the architecture studio ĒTER. The event will be held in English, and the venue will be announced soon. Admission is free.
Diverse Programme of Riga Art Week’s Parallel Events
Alongside RAW events, the city will host the Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2025, the Riga Performance Festival Starptelpa, the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art’s 25th anniversary celebrations, as well as the Purvītis Prize 2025 nominees’ exhibition at the Latvian National Museum of Art.
- Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2025
During RAW, visitors can explore exhibitions of the Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2025, showcasing emerging photographic talents from Latvia and abroad. The programme includes multiple exhibitions held across various galleries in Riga. - Riga Performance Art Festival “Starptelpa”
From May 27 to June 1, RAW will feature the Riga Performance Art Festival “Starptelpa,” with the central theme “More Than Human.” Throughout the week, Riga will come alive with diverse cultural events including performances, specialised workshops, networking opportunities, and a conference. - LCCA’s 25th Anniversary Programme: “Time, Dawn or Passing Train”
On Saturday, May 31, the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special program inviting visitors on a poetic journey through Riga’s art scene. The day will feature performances, a procession, a culinary performance with conversations, exhibition tours, and creative workshops. The evening will conclude with an exhibition opening at Andrejsala and night celebrations at the “Boļševička” venue. - The Purvītis Prize 2025 Nominees’ Exhibition at the Latvian National Museum of Art
Throughout Riga Art Week and until June 8, the most prestigious visual arts award in Latvia, the Purvītis Prize 2025, will showcase the nominees’ work at LNMA. The exhibition presents works by eight nominated artists and artist collectives.
RAW team. Elīna Drāke, Tīna Pētersone, Elena Šalina. Photo: Filips Šmits
Riga Art Week marks an important milestone for the city, bringing together local and international talent to present innovative and thought-provoking works. The festival will showcase the dynamic energy of Riga’s art scene and further solidify its place on the global cultural map. By connecting art institutions, artists, and the public, RAW will encourage new collaborations and leave a lasting cultural legacy.
Riga Art Week (RAW) is organised by the Galleries Association of Latvia in collaboration with the Riga Investment and Tourism Agency. The team consists of culture and art professionals with extensive international experience in curating and managing art projects.
- Elīna Drāke, Executive Director – Curator and manager of high-level international art projects, co-founder and director of Gallery ASNI, and Chairwoman of the Galleries Association of Latvia.
- Elena Šalina, Marketing Director – Idea author of the Riga Last Thursdays gallery night, former manager of M/Gallery (Latvia) and Imitate London (UK), and communications coordinator at Futurecity (UK).
- Tīna Pētersone, Project Manager – Independent curator, former production coordinator of the Performa Biennial (USA), currently creative producer at Liepāja 2027. Has curated projects in Paris, New York, Chicago, Copenhagen, and other cities.
Together, they bring over 30 years of combined experience in the art world, ensuring Riga Art Week will be a festival of global significance.
Riga Art Week is supported by Riga City Council, Signet Bank, Creative City “Grīziņdārzs”, Novum Foundation, Creative Factory “Veldze”, Grand Poet Hotel by Semarah, Neiburgs, GroGlass, Media Port. Media partner in Latvia: TVNET Group.
