On Tuesday, February 25, the forum “Culture and Climate: Dialogue on the Future and Quality of Life” will take place at the Cēsis Exhibition Hall. As the cultural capital of Latvia, Cēsis will highlight how the city’s cultural values can be integrated with contemporary global climate and sustainability challenges, ensuring well-being for its residents, administrators, and visitors alike.

Registration for the forum is open until February 21 – HERE.
Participation is free of charge, but the number of seats is limited.

The event will foster an understanding of the significance of Latvia’s cultural heritage in the global climate context, creating an interdisciplinary dialogue on the impact of climate change on cultural heritage and the quality of life in society.

The forum will be moderated by cultural journalist Eva Johansone, with experts from various fields sharing their knowledge and experiences.

The full forum program is available HERE.

Forum Opening – 11:00 AM

Part 1: “Cultural Heritage in Climate Change”

• 11:10 AM – Meteorologist Toms Bricis will discuss climate change in Latvia over the past century, addressing the associated risks and opportunities, including benefits for the cultural sector.
• 11:30 AM – Ināra Bula, head of Cēsis Museum, will share insights on sustainable solutions through circular economy and innovation using the example of Cēsis New Castle.
• 11:50 AM – Kārlis Grīnbergs, energy auditor at SIA “Energi,” will explore key challenges and practical examples of ensuring energy efficiency while preserving cultural heritage.
• 12:10 PM – Architect Agnese Lāce, project manager at SIA “Rīgas nami,” will provide an overview of the conservation of Riga’s historical heritage, spanning from the 13th to the 20th century.
• 12:30 PM – Anda Kursiša, head of the “New European Bauhaus” contact point in Latvia, will discuss the principles of the initiative in the development of public infrastructure and the importance of community engagement.

Part 2: “Cultural Heritage as a Driver of the Future”

• 2:00 PM – Jānis Tolpežņikovs, chairman of the association “Cēsis Heritage,” will share experiences on the restoration of historic buildings and their role in the city’s community development.
• 2:30 PM – Heritage conservation expert Pēteris Blūms will present approaches to preserving and revitalizing buildings of different scales and ages.
• 3:00 PM – Jana Jākobsone, head of the Construction Board of Kuldīga Municipality and manager of Kuldīga’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will discuss how circular economy principles contribute to sustainable development and efficient resource use in heritage preservation.

Panel Discussion: “Well-being and Revitalization of Cultural Heritage”

• 3:45 PM – A discussion featuring Jana Jākobsone (Kuldīga Municipality), Jānis Palkavnieks (“Draugiem Group”), Jānis Tolpežņikovs (“Cēsis Heritage”), and Inese Suija-Markova (Deputy Chair of Cēsis Municipality Council). The panelists will explore the role of cultural heritage in urban development and well-being.

Forum Conclusion – 5:00 PM

This translation was generated using AI.

David Mamet’s (b. 1947) play American Buffalo portrays three small-time hustlers who devise a plan to steal an antique coin collection, hoping for a lucrative deal. However, they soon realize that their so-called business model puts their friendship to the test. As one character warns his younger accomplice: “There’s business, and there’s friendship”—two worlds that, unfortunately, don’t always coexist.

Premiering in 1975, American Buffalo won the Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American Play and made it to Broadway in 1977, receiving critical acclaim. Reviewers praised Mamet’s unique ability to capture the nuances and ambiguities of everyday American speech. As one critic put it: “Mamet is a playwright worth listening to. He is a rare breed—an American dramatist whose plays are driven by language.”

CAST:

• Kārlis Freimanis
• Aksels Aizkalns
• Rūdis Bīviņš or Artis Jančevskis

⚠️ Note: The play contains explicit language.

A dark comedy in two acts

• Premiere: May 7, 2022
• Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes

Vidzeme Artists’ Days

In 2025, as Cēsis becomes the Latvian Capital of Culture, the city will host Vidzeme Artists’ Days, featuring a visual arts competition and exhibition. To highlight the need for greater engagement of Vidzeme’s artists in cultural, artistic, and social events—while addressing a globally relevant issue—the competition and exhibition are titled “Climate Check”. Artists are invited to interpret this multifaceted theme with creativity, boldness, and responsibility.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications for the Vidzeme Artists’ Days competition “Climate Check” are open from November 20, 2024, to February 1, 2025. Professional artists residing and working in the Vidzeme Planning Region and engaged in any form of visual arts are invited to apply. Submitted artworks must have been created within the last two years.

Competition-Exhibition Steps:

1. Submission of the application form (electronically, in person, or by mail) by February 1, 2025.
2. Jury evaluation of submissions and artworks (both remotely and on-site).
3. Selection of top artworks for the exhibition.
4. Artists deliver selected works to Cēsis Exhibition Hall.

Learn more about the application process here!
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The Cēsis Cultural Forum is a platform for discussions, ideas, and collaborations in the fields of culture, art, and creative industries. The event brings together professionals, artists, and cultural enthusiasts to explore current trends, challenges, and future perspectives in the cultural landscape.

Stay tuned for more details about the 2025 edition of the forum!

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Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Ludwig Mittelhammer, baritone
Conductor: Andris Poga

PROGRAMME

• Johannes Brahms / Detlev Glanert – Four Preludes and Serious Songs
• Gustav Mahler – Symphony No. 9

In 2005, German composer Detlev Glanert orchestrated Johannes Brahms’ “Four Serious Songs”, weaving them into a seamless score. Each song is introduced by a prelude, culminating in an orchestral postlude that enriches the work with dark yet expressive harmonies and rich orchestration.

Mahler’s Ninth Symphony, his final completed work, is a profound contemplation on life and death—a farewell to existence.

Concert in two parts with an intermission
Approximate duration: 2 hours

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The prestigious Dance Award ceremony will take place in Cēsis, honoring the most outstanding achievements in dance art for the years 2023 and 2024. The Dance Award is the highest accolade in professional dance art. It is awarded biennially in ballet, contemporary dance, stage folk dance, and modern dance for achievements in the creation of new productions, performances, and dance events, as well as in pedagogical and research work.

The Dance Award is organized by the Latvian Dance Information Center in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Cēsis Municipality. In 2025, Cēsis is the cultural capital of Latvia, and this event is one of the most significant happenings in this context.

The event will take place on April 29th at the Vidzeme Concert Hall “Cēsis” and will be available for live viewing on the Latvian Public Media portal LSM.lv and the content player REplay.lv, as well as in a delayed broadcast on LTV1.

This year, the Lifetime Achievement Award in dance art will be presented to choreographer, dancer, and dance educator Gunta Bāliņa, as well as choreographer and educator Baiba Rasma Šteina. The ceremony will feature awards in 15 categories, highlighting the best new productions, performances, and dance events, as well as pedagogical and research work.

We invite all interested parties to follow this significant event and support the outstanding representatives of Latvian dance art!

This translation was done using AI.