RPB – NEXT 2025 will take place on the 10th anniversary of the Riga Photography Biennial – RPB was first held in 2016. The biennial’s programme – NEXT focuses on young and promising artists from the Baltics, Nordic countries and Europe who are still in the early stages of their careers. The goal of the award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!” is to discover and appraise the creative efforts of young artists who demonstrate the power of the image in their works, offering an original point of view and conceptual depth reflecting our current times. The curators of RPB – NEXT are seeking portfolios of artists who stimulate discussion and offer diverse ideas. At the same time, the organizers wish to provide a public platform for young artists at the beginning of their creative journey in photography or a medium associated with it, so that they can present themselves to a wider audience.The competition is open to emerging artists and photographers from the Baltic states provided that the work they are entering in the competition was created within the last three years. More information about applying for the award is available on the Riga Photography Biennial website: https://www.rpbiennial.com/award_opencall.html
Deadline for submissions: October 6, 2024.
The winner of the prize will be determined by an international jury comprised of the art critic, historian and curator Adam Mazur (PL), the Artistic Director of Tallinn Photomonth Kulla Laas (EE), artist and curator Paulius Petraitis (LT), art historian and critic Santa Hirša (LV) and artist and curator of the ISSP Gallery Iveta Gabaliņa (LV).
Besides the main prize – an opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at the ISSP Gallery in Riga, the jury members will nominate five finalists (including the winner) who will present their work at the exhibition launch. The foundation ‘VV Foundation’ will choose a laureate for a 1000-euro monetary prize and an opportunity to spend a month working at their residency ‘PAiR’ (Pāvilosta Artist in Residency) in Pāvilosta, Latvia. The founders of the independent publishing initiative ‘NoRoutine Books’, Gytis Skudžinskas and Vilma Samulionyte (LT), will select one of the participants for their award – the opportunity to publish a photo book.
The winners of the RPB 2016 award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!’ were Vika Eksta (LV), Andrejs Strokins (LV) and Alissa Nirgi (EE). The 2018 winners were Diāna Tamane (LV), Taavi Suisalu (EE) and Kristīne Madjare (LV). In 2019, the award was received by Annija Muižule (LV). In 2021, Visvaldas Markevičius (LT) became the winner, and he also received the first award presented by the ‘VV Foundation’. The 2023 winner was Ieva Baltaduonytė (LT), but ‘VV Foundation’ award received Anna Dzērve (LV). The winners of the ‘NoRoutine Books’ award were Ieva Balode (LV) in 2016, Madara Gritāne (LV) in 2018, Reinis Lismanis (LV) in 2019, Kristīne Krauze-Slucka (LV) in 2021 and Armands Andže (LV) in 2023.
The Riga Photography Biennial (RPB) is an international contemporary art event, focusing on the analysis of visual culture and artistic representation. The term ‘photography’ in the title of the biennial is used as an all-embracing concept encompassing a mixed range of artistic image-making practices that have continued to transform the lexicon of contemporary art in the 21st century. The Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT offers visibility and provides a platform for promising young artists and helps to announce themselves to a wider audience and context. The NEXT festival edition taking place in spring 2025 is to be the fifth edition of the RPB – NEXT programme. More information: www.rpbiennial.com
ISSP is a platform for contemporary photography, art and education that is based in Latvia and operates internationally. Since its establishment in 2006, ISSP has been fostering an active photography scene in Latvia, educating the young generation of artists and promoting international exchange. With the opening of the ISSP Gallery in Berga Bazārs, 13 k-3 Marijas Street, Riga, ISSP has made its mark on the cultural map as the only space in Latvia dedicated to contemporary photography. More information: www.issp.lv
Partners: State Culture Capital Foundation, Riga State City Council, ‘VV Foundation’, ISSP Gallery, ‘NoRoutine Books’ (LT) and others.
