Signet Bank Supports the First “Riga Art Week” – A New Platform for Contemporary Art in Latvia

From 26th of May to 1st of June, the first-ever Riga Art Week (RAW) will take place. It is a brand new art festival aimed at fostering collaboration between art institutions, galleries, and industry professionals, while highlighting Riga’s potential on the European cultural event map. RAW will span an entire week with a rich program of art and cultural events, all free and open to the public.

The RAW program is designed to attract a broad audience – from art professionals to city visitors and local residents – offering a diverse range of events, including exhibitions, pop-up installations, and community-based projects in both well-known cultural venues and emerging creative neighborhoods. The festival will particularly emphasize integrating contemporary art into Riga’s urban landscape – in Grīziņdārzs, Pārdaugava, Āgenskalns, Veldze, and beyond.

Our goal is not only to strengthen Riga’s image as a significant cultural center, but also to encourage a more ambitious and confident art scene in Latvia. Only when we appreciate and take pride in our creative community can we become relevant and interesting on an international scale. Another essential aspect is collaboration – as a small nation, we must learn to support and uplift one another. Only through cooperation can we reach new heights. This year’s program will particularly spotlight Riga’s creative potential, expanding the city’s cultural map with new territories – emerging creative quarters.

Elīna Drāke, Director of Riga Art Week

Contemporary art is not just about aesthetics – it is a dialogue with society and with the times we live in. Signet Bank’s support is not a short-term initiative but a significant part of the bank’s identity – since 2015, we have been building an international contemporary art collection, with a core made up of works by Latvian artists. We are drawn to bold thinking, the ability to provoke, and freedom from convention – values that also define a modern investment bank.

This year, as part of the first Riga Art Week, we will open the bank’s premises to the public – offering an opportunity to explore part of our corporate art collection and learn more about how a business can be a co-creator of the art environment. We believe that contemporary art doesn’t belong only in galleries – it can be a natural part of everyday spaces. Art inspires us to think deeper, feel more, look at the world with a broader perspective, and helps foster a society’s emotional intelligence.

Ineta Done, Member of the Board, Signet Bank

Riga Art Week is a step toward a more open, courageous, and collaborative art scene in Latvia. All events are free and open to everyone! Learn more and explore the program: www.rigaartweek.com

Image: Līga Spunde’s work “The Hands” (2020) from Signet Bank Contemporary Art Collection. More about the collection HERE.