The 19th edition of the White Night contemporary culture forum will occur from September 6 to September 8 in the centre of Riga and its neighbourhoods with almost 30 art events of different genres. During the event, Riga residents and visitors can enjoy various concerts, performances, installations, plays, art projects, poetry, dance, music and many other events free of charge.
The White Night of 2024 beckons us to unveil the unknown, look behind the doors that are usually closed for us, and listen to the voices that rarely or never get heard. Usually, we experience the city in a very functional way, so the White Night encourages us to turn away from our daily routine and to talk in the language of art about the unknown, the discoverable, the fascinating, the inspiring... On this night, we all try to create a space for conversation.
The conceptual framework of this year's White Night programme was developed by director Reinis Suhanovs, while the visual image of the event was created by painter Zane Veldre in collaboration with graphic designer Karola Rubene.
This year's forum will symbolically and practically connect Riga from Imanta to Jugla, including the city centre and the neighbourhoods along the 1st tram route. The tram will be transformed into a rave place and a travelling performance during the White Night.
Many White Night attractions will welcome visitors on Friday, September 6.
The audiovisual installation 'Pārmaiņu oāze' will be open from September 6 to September 8 at VEF Vasarnīca on 8 Ūnijas Street, k-1, offering everyone a temporary asylum from external stimuli and letting you sink into a dreamlike ambience created by the synergy of water, plants and human voice.
On September 6 and 7 the Vidzeme market will host the sound performance 'Atraktoru klausāmtelpa' created by artist Voldemārs Johansons, the composition of which involved the computing systems of mathematical chaos. This art piece inspired by art and science invites visitors to listen to and experience an environment determined by chaos where unpredictability becomes the basic principle of organisation.
The Church of the Cross of Riga will host the installation 'Debesu ritmi' on September 6, 7 and 8. With the help of movement, sound and light stories will be unfolded about the harmonic movement of celestial bodies and their intricate interaction.
On September 7 the White Night events will permeate Riga from Jugla to Imanta, and we encourage you to start your adventure in Strazdumuiža, 5 Braila Street, where on the square by the shore of Jugla Lake the visitors will surprised by Frank Perrin's project Blind Cube. From 3 p.m. to midnight anyone will be welcome to experience an event of enveloping sound that puts people with eyesight and those without into the same space, thus broadening the confines of the visible.
Towards the evening an audiovisual art installation and a micro concert will take place at the brewery Manufaktūra still in Jugla on 401 Brīvības gatve. Those who are enthusiastic about the circus are more than welcome to come and see the show 'Cauruļu sonāte' brought to you by the company Nando e Maila (Italy) at VEF Culture Palace, where classical compositions will be brought to life by most unusual musical instruments with the help from circus equipment and gear.
On September 7 the city centre, namely, the Bergs Bazaar will be hosting a poetry discotheque – an exciting and performative event where dance and contemporary literature meet, enticing anyone to have fun and enjoy culture in a relaxed atmosphere with good music.
Nearby, in the yard of the Puppet Theatre at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. visitors can enjoy actors’ performance from the show 'Jelgava`94', but from 9 p.m. an audiovisual installation and concert 'S.O.S.' will take place in Riga Circus – the impressive musical installation that sheds light on the dual nature of solitude was created by Katrīna Neiburga and the MØR collective. The electro-acoustic, experimental music concert will combine electro-pop, performances and poetry, touching upon topics like power, privilege and apathy.
On September 7 the gallery Masa at 67 Elizabetes Street will be showing the exhibit 'Nodilušās vēlmes' (Worn Dreams) created by 12 artists from Latvia and Ukraine, which will explore the complex nature of people's wishes and dreams. Analogue light installations and jazz concerts will complement the ambience of the exhibit. From 6 p.m. to midnight the event 'Slēptās vizualitātes/Vizualitātēs slēptais' will take place in the large hall of the cinema Splendid Palace, and it will be dedicated to a deeper understanding of visual thinking and the construction of a sight.
On September 7 the visitors can view the exhibit 'Valdis Bušs 100' dedicated to the centenary of the Latvian landscape master Valdis Bušs in the art gallery Art Platz in the Quiet Centre. It was characteristic for the artist to use bright and contrasting colours, colourful arrays of hues, rich textures, and expressive and dynamic brush strokes.
The usual visitors of the White Night are welcome to join 'Videogrāfija’ which this year will take place in the Angārs Concert Hall at Tallinas Street, the concerts of 'Skaņu mežs' at St. Saviour's Anglican Church, as well as the 15th anniversary programme 'Naktsmērs' of the contemporary art festival “Survival Kit” on 4 Amatu Street in the Old Town and the Smilga Culture Space at 34A Eduarda Smiļģa Street in Pārdaugava.
Both grown-ups and children alike are invited to visit the Rātslaukums Square during the day from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and enjoy the travelling contemporary art exhibit 'Māksla uz riteņiem', which will be an adventure for children and adolescents, introducing the visitors to four different pieces of art and dragging them in the art creation process.
Within the context of the White Night 2024 programme the Riga Contemporary Art Space will be hosting a solo exhibition 'Zaķīšu pirtiņa / bailes un trīsas' by Elza Sīle and an exhibition 'Kā (pie)rakstīt gaismu' by the artist collective Baltic Analog Lab open from 6 p.m. to midnight. At the Dome Square environmental art object 'Kopā pie Doma' from 9 p.m. to midnight you can enjoy listening to the jazz of 'Baltās nakts džeza skaņas' brought to you by City Jazz Riga and Joker Dixie.
Various exciting White Night events will also welcome visitors on the left bank of the River Daugava.
The night from September 7 to September 8 an interdisciplinary adventure 'Ūdenim tuvu' will be taking place in the Ķīpsala Swimming Pool at 10:22 p.m., 11:33 p.m. and 00:44 a.m., which will entertain you with the cycle of choir songs 'Dziesmas par Latvijas upēm' by Raimonds Pauls and Inese Zandere. From 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. the Latvian Railway History Museum offers the concert 'Katedrāle un roks' – a musically powerful experience where woodwind orchestra and a rock band collide. The visitors will have the chance to enjoy the musical legacy of the Latvian rock band Katedrāle and the pieces from Deep Purple's musician Jon Lord.
The Great Hall of Riga Stradiņš University will be hosting a production of the world's first baroque opera Andromeda as reconstructed by artificial intelligence, brought to life by the baroque orchestra Collegium Musicum Riga. The opera libretto has survived till today, but the musical material was lost to the ages. Using an artificial intelligence tool, the creative team strived to recover what was lost to revive the opera which on 16 March 1644 was performed at the Grand Ducal Palace of Vilnius.
On September 7 visitors can see the audiovisual installation 'Staro. Aurora Borealis' at St. Martin's Church of Riga from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.. University of Latvia Botanical Garden is hosting the event 'NeuroGurķi' with programmes of short films and performances, combining biology, music, technology and art.
Nearby, in the yard of Riga secondary school No. 34 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., everyone is welcome to see the Puppet Theatre of Latvia perform their show The Teachers. Not only is the work experience of these teachers considerable, but so is their size. A size that will make each visitor feel like a pupil again if for a moment.
Throughout the evening the non-governmental theatre Dirty Deal Teatro will be home to the co-created theatre event 'Uz robežas'. The depicted characters and situations will reflect the diversity and individualistic leanings of modern society, as well as its social, economic and spiritual state.
Children, adolescents and families are welcome at the Association of Culture Institutions of Pārdaugava culture center IMANTA where from 4 p.m. to midnight visitors can enjoy 'Baltā kino nakts' allowing the viewers to experience contemporary film art. The event will combine film viewing and learning about the film creation process with grasping new skills in filmmaking.
The evening of September 7 will unveil new revelations in the festival Sculpture Quadrennial Riga, where in the context of the White Night 2024 the festival will turn the AB Dam into a park of public art, creating an exhibition of urban environment art pieces represented by artists from Ukraine, South America, Canada and Latvia.
For more information on all White Night events go to www.baltanakts.lv
The idea underlying the forum is the desire to open the city to contemporary art activities for a whole night, offering a broad and diverse selection of cultural events. The tradition of “White Night” (in French Nuit Blanche) started in Paris in 2002. In Riga, the contemporary culture forum White Night has been taking place since 2006.
The goal of the White Night is to motivate society to discover the diversity of contemporary culture and to spark a bigger interest in cultural events, displays and changes. The White Night takes place in the centre of the city, as well as its neighbourhoods, revealing a city that is open to citizens and guests of any age, nationality and social standing. Traditionally the events of the White Night take place not only in the usual places for culture and art but also in unusual spots, thus broadening the perception of what is culture.
Information was prepared by: Aira Ancāne, project coordinator of the Department of External Communications of Riga City Council Communication Department, email: aira.ancane@riga.lv
