Latvia will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the European Union with concerts and light events / Article

Concerts “You are home. You are EU” and “There will be a song forever”

On May 1, the concert story “You are at home. You are in the EU” will be broadcast on Channel 1 of Latvian Television from 4:00 p.m. Its main goal is an invitation to everyone to realize the importance of national independence and the right decision for Latvia’s membership in the European Union.

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 under our own control, therefore it is actually a stained glass window based on the images of our values, which is illuminated by the light coming from the outside world. It is important to choose which side of the sky to build a window at home. We have chosen the right direction, according to the concert organizers.

The creation of stained glass in this window to the European Union is also the main scenographic element of the concert story, which is intended to be realized with the wall of LED screens used in the scenography and previously made videos of the real creation of stained glass. The story told by the stained glass combines all the themes used in the concert story, and it is entrusted to the artist, stained glass artist Anitra Bērziņa.

The step-by-step creation of the stained-glass window is filled with content by three types of stage events – performed by Latvian folk wisdom actors Gundars Grasberg and Inga Misānes Grasberga, conversations led by experienced journalists Ilze Nagla and Jānis Geste with various important people in the context of the EU, as well as a musical performance. It will be performed by the Riga Chamber Choir “Ave Sol” and the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of composer Raimonds Tigula. The artistic concept and direction of the concert story is created by the director Kārlis Anitens.

You can watch the concert “You are at home. You are in the EU” live on channel 1 of Latvian Television, on the portal LSM.lv and listen to it on the air of Latvian Radio, as well as watch it on the LED screen in Brīvības Square.

On the other hand, on May 1 at 13.00 in the Culture Center “Imanta” 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 will take place in Victory Park – the environmental object “Democratic Square”. 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.

Light promotion “Latvia shines in Europe”

In honor of Latvia’s 20th anniversary in the European Union, 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 16 other European Union member states, where objects of national and regional importance will be illuminated in honor of the most ambitious EU enlargement anniversary 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 European Union on a large-format LED screen.

From 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., everyone will be able to follow the festive concert broadcast by Latvian Television on LED screens. On the other hand, at dusk, the installation will be complemented by rays of light that will reach the sky, reminiscent of the colors of the flag of the European Union.

Flash action with the biggest EU flag in Latvia MésEsamEiropa

On May 1, at 3:30 p.m., a flash event MésEsamEiropa will take place from Dome Square to the Freedom Monument in Riga, where 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.

Open-air exhibition “Caricaturist’s code – myths and truth about Latvia’s membership in the EU and NATO”

On April 30, the State Chancellery will open the open-air exhibition “Caricaturist’s code – myths and truth about Latvia’s membership in the EU and NATO” together with cartoonist Gati Šlūkas.

Both in the process of joining NATO and the EU, as well as in the status of an active member state, various discussions have arisen in Latvian society about the new ideas and changes, and various myths have also grown up during them. Therefore, the exhibition in the linden alley opposite the Cabinet of Ministers building will invite you to look at ten myths, stereotypes and misconceptions about NATO and the EU with a smile and critically evaluate them with your own convictions.

The opening event of the exhibition will be held on Tuesday, April 30, at 11:00 a.m. in the linden alley opposite the Cabinet of Ministers building (Brīvības bulvārī 36).

The exhibition in Liepu Alley will be open until May 28 of this year, offering everyone the opportunity to appreciate the role and contribution of NATO and the EU in strengthening our common values ​​- democracy, security and the rule of law.