Riga Art Week (RAW), an exciting new art festival, will take place from 26 May – 1 June 2025 in Rīga, Latvia. This dynamic city-wide event 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.
RAW is part of a global tradition, following in the footsteps of similar festivals in major cities around the world, such as Stockholm, Berlin, London, and Tokyo. Riga Art Week continues this legacy, offering a unique local perspective while contributing to the global dialogue in the contemporary art world.
The Programme
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.
- Thursday, 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. As part of Gallery Late, the high-rise Zunda Towers will feature an installation Meatrack, created by renowned curator James Taylor-Foster in collaboration with the architecture studio ĒTER.
- Friday, 30 May: RAW will officially open with a special event featuring well-known artists and special guests – Emilija Škarnulytė (Lithuania), duo Domenique Dumont (Latvia) and Kitty Florentine (Estonia) – kicking off a weekend filled with art, culture and conversation.
- Saturday and Sunday, 31 May and 1 June: Various pop-up events, exhibitions, workshops and lectures will be held across the city. On 31 May, the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art’s 25th anniversary programme TIME, DAWN OR A PASSING TRAIN will be launched with a 25-hour celebration. On 1 June, the final day of the RAW programme, International Children’s Rights Protection Day will be celebrated with a special programme for families with children and young people at the Latvian National Museum of Art, art spaces, and creative quarters.
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, New Hanza, Agenskalns and more. These areas will serve as platforms for new creative expressions, pop-up installations, and community-driven projects.
The Inaugural Edition
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.
About the Organizers
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.
Quote from the Organizer
“Riga Art Week aims not only to strengthen Riga’s image as an important cultural centre but also to promote a more ambitious and confident art environment in Latvia. Only if we value and boast our own creative community will we become interesting and relevant internationally. Another important aspect is cooperation – as a small nation we have to learn to support and build each other up. Only by working together can we reach new heights. This year’s programme will highlight Riga’s creative potential, in particular, expanding the city’s cultural map with new areas – the emerging Creative Quarters”, says Elīna Drāke.
About Riga
Riga, the capital of Latvia, is a city with a rich cultural history and a growing contemporary art scene. With its diverse architecture and creative spaces, Riga is emerging as a cultural centre in the Baltic region and beyond. Riga Art Week plays a key role in enhancing this transformation, offering a platform for global and local artists to connect, collaborate, and engage with the city’s public.
About the Partners
Riga Art Week collaborates with a wide range of local galleries, cultural institutions, and creative spaces. These partnerships aim to foster dialogue and cross-disciplinary exchanges, further establishing Riga as a key player in the international art scene.
About the Supporters of RAW
Riga Art Week is supported by Riga City Council, Signet Bank, Creative City “Grīziņdārzs”, Novum Foundation and Creative Factory “Veldze”.
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About Riga Art Week (RAW)
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