Riga - European Capital of Culture 2014 candidate

eaming riga 2014Our ancestors believed that light is asubstance and that it can be poured,cut into pieces, stuffed into a sack, orcollected in a Castle of Light… thatone can build bridges from light andthat light can be given to others as apresent. This conviction is nicely illustratedwith a funny story about peoplewho built a house without windowsand then tried to fill it with light usingbuckets and sacks.The festival of light “Beaming Riga” (StaroRīga) keeps proving the enduring truth ofour forefathers in artistic ways – light becomesthe material of artwork just as paintbrushes,colour, canvas, stone or bronzehave been media for art. In the year 2014,all of the themes of the programme will betouched upon, but the festival will primarilybe dedicated to the theme “Thirst For TheOcean”.As the sea may dream of becoming anocean, the Riga Canal wishes to be asgreat as the Nile or the Amazon, and eachfountain in the city – as swift as a torrentialmountain spring. The festival of light“Beaming Riga” has enough resources tofulfil these dreams at least for few days.Powerful light and sound effects will transformthe waters of the city – the fountains inthe Vērmanes Garden, the Esplanade andthe Opera Square, and also in the RigaCanal, bringing to life fantastic sights onan incomparable experience.“Freedom Street”, one of the themes in theRiga programme, is a very important arteryfor the city. The festival of light “BeamingRiga”, being a recent and ambitious processin the urban environment, plans tobathe the street in coloured light andvideo projections. The street will be oneof the routes of the festival – overlookedelements of architecture, buildings andparticular details of the urban environmentas well as previously concealed innercourtyards will be unveiled by the artistsof the “Beaming Riga” festival. The avenueopposite the Cabinet of Ministers, the RigaDistrict Court building, the Central Library,a typical Art Nouveau building, the DaileTheatre, the Vidzeme marketplace, theNew St. Gertrude’s Church and Air Bridgeare just a part of the wide range of interestingsites on this street. The latest technologies,a broad range of lighting systems,video and real fire will turn Freedom Streetinto the artery of the festival.The “Road Map” will help one find one’sway to “Beaming Riga” performances inthe Riga neighbourhoods. For example,festival artists will create light performancesand installations in the parks of Āgenskalns– in Arkādija Garden, the Youth Garden,Small Arkādija’s Garden, Māra’s Garden,Meteor Garden and Victory Park. The playof light will uncover the Neogothic buildingsof Pauls Stradiņš’s Clinical Hospital.A very special show will be awaiting atMāra’s Pond, where with the help of lightand projections an illusion of the historicalbuilding of the Māra’s Mill will be created.This mill was the first known building inĀgenskalns and the Pārdaugava area ofRiga and is mentioned in historic chroniclesfrom 1226.Everyone has heard stories about thelegendary Amber Room – one of the biggesttreasures from the castle of CatherineI, Peter the Great’s wife. The Amber Roomwas lost during the World War II and noone has succeeded in finding it. The lightfestival “Beaming Riga” will let one find theAmber Room in Riga – inside the RailroadStation tunnel.The Old Town – the oldest part of Riga –will turn into a maze during the “BeamingRiga” festival. The narrow streets disguisedby lights will confuse even the true OldRiga experts and make them look for theright way out. Then the “Survival Kit” willbe of good use!A whirl of events will await the spectatorsat Dome Square. “Riga Carnival” – in asequence of moving light projections onthe walls of the buildings surrounding thesquare, the history of the city will be presented- the past, the present and even thefuture.What: Multimedia light installation festivalin the urban environment.Where: Sites throughout the city.When: November 14–18.concept authors: Diāna Čivle, Mārcis Gulbis,Guntars Kambars (www.staroriga.lv).Organiser: Riga City Council, Departmentof Culture44 45