Riga will celebrate the 20th anniversary of joining the EU with concerts, environmental art and flash photography

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Latvia’s entry into the European Union (EU), residents of Riga and guests of the city are invited on Wednesday, May 1, to watch a live concert, view the city’s environmental art objects and take part in a flash event with the largest European Union (EU) flag in Latvia, as well as take part in the light show in the campaign “Latvija shines in Europe”, informed the Riga municipality.

On Wednesday from 16:00, the concert story “You are at home. You are in the EU” will be broadcast live from the National Library of Latvia. Its main goal is a call for everyone to realize the importance of national independence and the right decision for Latvia’s EU membership at the moment.

The central axis of the concert story is the window as our point of view on the wider world, but the world we see outside the window is within our control. The creation of stained glass in the EU window is also the main scenographic element of the concert story.

In the concert story, you will be able to listen to the wisdom of the Latvian people performed by actors Gundars Grasberg and Inga Misānes-Grasberg, journalist Ilze Nagla and Jānis Geste will lead conversations with various important people in the context of the EU, while the music will be provided by composer Raimonds Tigulis, with the participation of the Riga Chamber Choir “Ave Sol” and the Latvian National Symphony for the orchestra. The artistic concept and direction of the concert story is created by the director Kārlis Anitens.

You can watch the concert live on LTV1, on the portal “lsm.lv” and listen on the air of Latvian Radio, as well as watch it on the LED screen in Brīvības Square.

On the other hand, at 1:00 p.m. in the “Imanta” Culture Center there will be a concert “There will be a song forever” in the voices of the men’s choir “Silvicola”. The members of the forest workers’ men’s choir “Silvicola” invite you to a patriotic concert in which the repertoire “with the smell of the forest” will be played. At the concert, such compositions as “Green men on the shore of the blue sea”, “Rīga dimd”, “Motto”, “Zalu mežu shalkā”, “Soul song”, “Retired, soul” and other choir songs will be performed.

From May 1 to May 31, a conceptual campaign – the environmental object “Democratic Square” will take place in Victory Park. The environmental installation created by Erik Bož illustrates a democratic and inclusive society, reveals how, looking from different points of view, we can see the overall picture of an object or process. The environmental object was created with the participation of residents.

In honor of Latvia’s 20th anniversary in the EU, on May 1, four Latvian cities – Riga, Rēzekne, Cēsis and Liepāja – will be lit up with festive installations in the colors of the European flag. In Riga, the rays of light will reach the sky at the Freedom Monument, in Rēzekne – at the Latgale Embassy “GORS”, in Cēsis – at the Vidzeme Concert Hall, while in Liepāja – at “Rose Square”.

A similar light campaign will take place in another 16 EU member states, where objects of national and regional importance will be illuminated in honor of the most ambitious anniversary of the EU enlargement so far.

In each of the mentioned places, on May 1, from 12:00 to 24:00, you will be able to watch a video about Latvia and our benefits as part of the EU on a large-format LED screen.

On the other hand, at 3:30 p.m. from Dome Square to the Freedom Monument in Riga, a flash event MésEsamEiropa will take place, in which anyone interested will be able to participate in a march through Old Riga with large-format Latvian and European Union flags.

At the end of the march, led by the Latvian Diplomatic Choir, the participants of the flash action will unite in the performance of the Latvian and EU anthems at the Freedom Monument. The participants of the event are invited to take a photo and share it on social media, including using the hashtags MésEsamEiropa and LV20ES , demonstrating belonging to the space of European values. The flash event is organized by the European Movement in Latvia in cooperation with the State Chancellery and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In addition, three environmental art objects will be displayed in the urban environment. The environmental design object “Radiation” will be on display in the forecourt of the Āgenskalns market, the “Svetku flag” object will be on display in Uzvara Park, while the citizens of Riga and city guests will be delighted by the environmental object “Latvija”, where you can capture yourself, your loved ones and friends with the name of Latvia in a photo.