The tenth edition of SURVIVAL KIT, the largest annual contemporary art event in the Baltics organised by the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art, will take place in two parts: this September in collaboration with Goethe-Institut Riga in the building of the Riga Circus, while a broad concluding programme of the festival is planned for May 2019 at a venue yet to be announced.
In September and May, SURVIVAL KIT 10 will turn to the investigation of the concept of outland, questioning the traditional division of geopolitical and cultural space into centre and periphery.
Solvita Krese, director of the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art, explains: “Outland is not always geographical, it can be any territory characterised by a complex politico-economic situation which makes it more difficult to reach both literally and metaphorically. Thus, although physical distances from Riga are similar, Western Countries are much more accessible and attractive than Kiev, Bucharest or Ljubljana, with which we share our recent history.”
Curators Solvita Krese and Inga Lāce from the Latvian Centre of Contemporary Art will be joined by curator Sumesh Sharma from Bombay as well as Barcelona and Berlin-based curator Àngels Miralda. Sharma is one of the founders of Clark House Initiative, an association of artists and curators, while Miralda has worked with exhibitions in the Santiago Museum of Contemporary Art in Chile and elsewhere.
Through the subject of outland, the festival will also look at the locally and internationally significant issue of global migration, which has brought to the forefront a row of other problems: racism, growing right-wing nationalism and intolerance towards difference. As part of the festival, Latvian and international artists will be invited to create new works dealing with this subject.
The Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art in collaboration with Goethe-Institut Riga has titled the September festival Tukšā | Telpa - Leer | Stelle.
Arne Schneider, director of Goethe-Institut Riga stresses: "Germany is a country in the middle of Europe. From Europe and all over the world, people come to us – as much-needed, highly skilled workers, as refugees, to realize their artistic or entrepreneurial ideas, or for many other reasons. We look forward to working with international artists to explore how these movements of people affect our societies in Europe.”
Ināra Kehre, CEO of VSIA "Rīgas cirks" says: "SURVIVAL KIT is an apt and symbolic messenger of the new season of the Riga Circus. This year, the building of the Riga Circus turns 130 years old, and this summer we will complete reinforcement and conservation of the building's facade as well as structural strengthening of the roof thus eliminating the hazard discovered in 2016. The building awaits renovation, but while it is being prepared, we welcome everyone to different events in the building of the circus. A multi-faceted arts programme is planned for the next two years, including circus, theatre, dance, visual art, musical events and everything that goes together with artistic creation at the same time being able to embrace the wear of the building. SURVIVAL KIT is an experienced partner, which will make it possible to realise the potential of the various spaces and, most importantly, will let each visitor experience the magic charm of the circus space."
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Financial partners: State Culture Capital Foundation, Riga City Council. Leer | Stelle is supported by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany
Cooperation partners: Rīgas Cirks, Lux Express, Ģertrūdes ielas teātris, Dirty Deal Teatro
Media partners: Pastaiga, Delfi, Punctummagazine, Satori, Naba, Rīgas Laiks