The Foundation’s Gift to Latvia’s Libraries

April 15, 2014

For the eighth year in a row, ABLV Charitable Foundation is conducting a grant competition for the organisation of contemporary art exhibitions, under the auspices of which we provide support for the development of contemporary art in Latvia. Thanks to these projects, one of the fruits of which is a book documenting the project in question, we have the opportunity to make a beautiful and valuable gift to the Public Benefit Organisation “Latvian National Library Support Society”. In this case, the books in question are three colourful and quality art publications: Gvido Kajons’ “Theme 011”, which this year received Diena’s Annual Award in Culture for 2013 in the category The Most Impressive Event in Visual Arts in 2013; the catalogue for the first International Ceramics Symposium “LANDescape” and the Art Academy of Latvia’s 2013 yearbook. 

The 534 art books will end up on the shelves of over 400 Latvian public and art school libraries, augmenting them with enjoyable and interesting content about the Latvian art world.

“One of the Foundation’s basic tasks is to support and encourage public understanding of the importance of art and its educational aspect in the development and growth of everyone. With this gift of books to Latvia’s libraries, we want to stimulate interest in the colourful and infinitely rich world of art, in the hope that this will encourage readers to think and delve within themselves, thus nurturing new talents and opportunities. We are also gratified by the unbridled enthusiasm of Latvia’s libraries to see these publications on their bookshelves,” said the Foundation’s Board Chair Zanda Zilgalve.

In total, we have supported around 80 contemporary art projects to date, investing more than EUR 500,000 in them, and we will continue to facilitate the development of this realm in Latvia in future.