MASS MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
Riga, 04.02.2013
„Take a Chance Till 11 February!”
The Main Building of the Latvian National Museum of Art
to Close on 12 February 2013 for Reconstruction
The main building of the Latvian National Museum of Art
10a K. Valdemāra Street, Riga
Because of a project aimed at its complete reconstruction, the main building
of the Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMA) in Riga, 10a K. Valdemāra Street, will
be open to visitors only until 11 February 2013. The museum invites everybody to
take the last chance to view the museum’s permanent display, because this is the
last time that it will be presented in its current appearance.
The permanent displays of the museum trace the development of professional art in
the Baltic region and Latvia from the mid-1700s to the mid-20th century, offering visitors a
look at the grand masters of Latvian art, as well as featuring a number of outstanding
episodes in Russian art from the 18th to the first half of the 20th century. The Russian art
collection of the Latvian National Museum of Art is the richest in the Baltic states.
The three thematic permanent displays are conceptually based on the
chronologically stylistic principle. Some 600 exhibits reflect a broad panorama of art
periods by illustrating the development of the art processes and the succession of stylistic
trends. The displays are dominated by painting and enhanced by characteristic examples
of sculpture. Works of graphic art are displayed in special glass showcases.
The permanent display Baltic Art: Late 18th – Late 19th Century acquaints visitors
with the international scene of Baltic art of the period in which the Latvian professional
artists were involved. Latvian Art: Late 19th – Mid-20th Century offers a sizable collection
of the classics of Latvian art revealing the origins and stages of development of the
national school.
Alongside works by the masters who worked in Latvia in the 1920s and 1930s,
visitors can also examine artworks of Gustavs Klucis (1895–1938), one of the world’s best____________________________________________________________________________________
„Take a Chance Till 11 February!”
The Main Building of the Latvian National Museum of Art to Close on 12 February 2013 for Reconstruction
/ LNMA main building / till 11.02.2013 /
1
known Latvian artists and widely recognised representative of the avant-garde, a great
master of Constructivism and photomontage.
A fine selection of Russian art is presented in the permanent display Russian Art:
18th – Early 20th Century. Of special interest to visitors is the separately displayed
collection of works by the outstanding Russian artist, thinker and traveller Nikolai Roerich
(1874–1947) and his son Svyatoslav (1904–1993). The collection acquaints viewers with
the careers of two great Russian artists and is unique in two ways, firstly, the artistic value
of the works and secondly, the fact that the works were personally selected and donated to
the Museum of the Latvian Roerich Society by Nikolai Roerich in the 1930s.
The last temporary exhibitions at the museum prior to its closing for reconstruction
include one featuring the work of one of the grand masters of Latvian painting, Ģederts
Eliass, „Ģederts Eliass (1887–1975). Paintings”, in the White Hall, and one featuring
sketches and models related to the restoration and reconstruction of the LNMA, in the
Minor Hall.
The Latvian National Museum of Art was opened on 16 September 1905, and
between that date and 31 December 2012, some 10 million visitors passed through its
doors. The building itself is an architectural monument of national importance, but during
its 107 years of existence, it has never underwent capital renovations.
An agreement on the restoration and reconstruction of the main building of the
LNMA and on new building work in its territory was signed on 22 January 2013 with the
Re&Re building company. The design was the work of the Lithuanian architects’ office
Processoffice. The building’s current condition is close to being disastrous, and there is a
shortage of space. These issues will be addressed as part of the modernisation project.
The work is scheduled to be done by the middle part of 2015.
MORE INFORMATION:
Anna Balandina, Head of the Communication Department
T: (+371) 67 324461, E: Anna.Balandina@lnmm.lv
The main building of the Latvian National Museum of Art (10a K. Valdemāra Street, Riga)
OPENING HOURS:
Daily 11.00–17.00, ticket office 11.00–16.45
Fridays 11.00–20.00, ticket office 11.00–19.45
Closed on Tuesdays
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„Take a Chance Till 11 February!”
The Main Building of the Latvian National Museum of Art to Close on 12 February 2013 for Reconstruction
/ LNMA main building / till 11.02.2013 /
2
ADMISSION:
Individual admission fee for groups of 10 or more people given in brackets. Free admission for group leaders.
Permanent display + exhibition in the Minor Hall
Adults:
LVL 1.50 (1.00)
Schoolchildren, students, senior citizens:
LVL 0.50 (0.30)
Exhibition in the White HalI
Adults:
Schoolchildren, students, senior citizens:
LVL 2.50 (2.00)
LVL 1.50 (1.00)
Combined admission for the whole museum
Adults:
LVL 3.00 (2.50)
Schoolchildren, students, senior citizens:
LVL 1.50 (1.00)
Family admission fee
(1–2 adults with 1–4 children or family with many children):
LVL 4.00
APPENDIX: IMAGES FOR THE NEWS MEDIA (If you require a larger size, please contact the museum)
1.
Advertising banner „Take a Chance Till 11 February!”
2-3.
The main building of the Latvian National Museum of Art. Photo: LNMA
4-5.
The permanent display of the LNMA. Photo: Mārtiņš Blumbergs
6.
Ģederts Eliass. Still Life With Fruit. 1919–1920. Oil on canvas. LNMA collection.
Photo: Normunds Brasliņš
7.
Ģederts Eliass. At Mirror. 1918–1919. Oil on cardboard. LNMA collection.
Photo: Normunds Brasliņš
8-10. Visualization of the project for the restoration, reconstruction and extension of the main
building of the Latvian National Museum of Art. Publicity photo
Press materials prepared by:
Natalie Suyunshalieva
Curator of Press, Information and Publicity
The Latvian National Museum of Art
T: (+371) 67 357527, F: (+371) 67 357520
E: pr.service@lnmm.lv, I: www.lnmm.lv
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lnmm_muzejs
____________________________________________________________________________________
„Take a Chance Till 11 February!”
The Main Building of the Latvian National Museum of Art to Close on 12 February 2013 for Reconstruction
/ LNMA main building / till 11.02.2013 /
3