Dear Participants of the GRATA BALVA 2026 Competition,

The team of MuseumLV Gallery and GrataJJ Cultural Centre sincerely thanks you for your participation in the project “Multilayered Identity: Encountering Otherness in Urban Space.” We greatly appreciate your creative perspectives on this year’s theme, its diverse interpretations, as well as the thoughtful and professional execution of your works.

This year, 86 artists took part in the competition, while 113 works and installations were presented in the exhibition. During the exhibition, thousands of residents and visitors of Latvia had the opportunity to discover and experience your creative works.

Several public and private events were organised as part of the competition and exhibition, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about the participating artists and their work. This year, the exhibition curator, Doctor of Arts (Dr. art.) Deniss Hanovs, also conducted special guided tours for representatives of embassies and members of the Riga City Council, introducing them to the exhibition’s concept and the works of the artists represented in the competition. The project was also featured in various media outlets and leading Latvian information portals.

Working on the GRATA BALVA 2026 project has been a meaningful and inspiring experience for us. We were delighted to communicate with each artist, discover their creative stories, and hear the impressions of the exhibition’s visitors. We sincerely hope to welcome you again in our future projects at MuseumLV Gallery and GrataJJ Cultural Centre.

We highly value your contribution, creative energy, and commitment to personal growth and to the development of Latvia’s cultural and artistic environment.

We would like to remind you that 11 September is the final day of the exhibition “Multilayered Identity: Encountering Otherness in Urban Space.” We kindly ask you to collect your work during the gallery’s working days between 25 September and 24 October.

We are also pleased to invite you to the opening of the gallery’s next exhibition on 24 September – Denijs Berkovskis “The Adventures of Saint Ilya in the Land of Childhood Dreams.” The invitation will be sent at a later date.

Kind regards,
The team of MuseumLV Gallery and GrataJJ Cultural Centre