Art Riga Fair 2023

After two years on the road, first at a central address on Tērbatas iela, then inside the Zunda Towers high rise, ART RIGA FAIR came home. On 19 September 2023 it reopened the Latvian Railway History Museum for a VIP preview, then ran five public days through 24 September: the ninth edition, around 60 artists and galleries, and, for the first time, an expanded Lithuanian and Estonian presence.

Home again at the Railway Museum

The Latvian Railway History Museum at Uzvaras bulvāris 2A had been the fair's address from its first edition in 2014. It then moved twice: to Tērbatas iela in the Riga city centre for the 2021 return after the pandemic pause, and to Zunda Towers, a high rise on the Riga skyline, for the eighth edition in 2022. The ninth edition brought ART RIGA FAIR back to the museum halls where it began, a return the museum's own listing confirms.

Seven countries, a wider Baltic presence

Around 60 artists and galleries travelled to the museum from Germany, France, Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, the USA and Latvia. Reporting on the opening, rus.lsm.lv wrote that this was the first time in the fair's history that Lithuanian and Estonian artists had such expanded representation, a notable widening of the fair's usual Baltic footprint.

The fair's own program page, published shortly before the doors opened, framed the grand opening's line-up a little differently:

The event will feature artists as well as classical and contemporary art galleries from Germany, France, Switzerland, Estonia, Lithuania, and others. Art Riga Fair, official program page, artriga.com (2023)

By opening day the confirmed roster had grown to include Ukraine and the USA as well, the international line-up widening right up to the start of the week.

Two openings, one evening

The 19th of September carried two distinct events rather than one long opening night. First, at 17:00, a VIP preview:

It is an opportunity to get acquainted with the exhibition exclusively and discreetly first and possibly choose an artwork to take home. We will take care of your good mood, offer an individual tour through the exhibition stands, introduce you to artists and, accompanied by live music, invite you to discuss art. Art Riga Fair, official program page, artriga.com (2023)

Two hours later, at 19:00, the grand opening proper introduced the full run of stands to the wider public. "This year," the program noted, "there is a limited number of tickets available for the afterparty," and the evening was built around presenting every participant and the best of the stands to the visitors gathered for it.

Five days for the public

Day	Hours
Wed 20.09	10:00–18:00
Thu 21.09	10:00–20:00
Fri 22.09	10:00–18:00
Sat 23.09	10:00–18:00
Sun 24.09	10:00–17:00

Thursday ran two hours later than the rest of the week.

Across those five days, the fair's own program promised:

A week full of events: meetings and discussions, the opportunity to attend creative workshops, performances by young artists, and many special surprises. We also look forward to little art enthusiasts, for whom a creative playground will be arranged to create masterpieces. Art Riga Fair, official program page, artriga.com (2023)

Across the week, the program ran talks and discussions, creative workshops, performances by young artists and a children's creative playground alongside the exhibition.

Behind the stands

Every exhibitor's stand stood in the museum's main hall under LED lighting, and every exhibitor received two pages in the fair's electronic catalogue, published on artriga.com and across its social networks. The organizers' pitch to prospective participants set the offer out in three parts:

Technical: Your art will be exhibited in the main hall of the museum, placed in our provided exhibition stand with LED lighting. Two pages in our electronic catalog dedicated to your works, which will be available on our website www.artriga.com and social networks. You will be able to participate in all events related to the exhibition. Practical: We will take care of attracting interested visitors, and also provide an opportunity to talk about your art in interviews with press publications. We will facilitate the formation of valuable professional and international contacts. We will help to find buyers and collectors for your artworks. For the soul: We offer you to spend an unforgettable and creative week full of events together with us. Art Riga Fair, "Information for artists", artriga.com (4 August 2023)

An open call ran right up to fair week: "Last chance to apply! Dear friends, artists and art galleries, please send your application for Art Riga Fair 2023! Only a few places are remaining!" Applicants chose between a small or large stand, gave their artwork type as painting, sculpture, audio-visual media or performance, and attached up to four photographs.

Organized by Happy Art Museum

Happy Art Museum, curated by Galina Maksimova, has organized ART RIGA FAIR since its first edition in 2014. The contact for the edition was Galina Maksimova, happyartmuseum@gmail.com, +371 291 777 48.

The opening was also documented in a [100-photo album published by jauns.lv](https://jauns.lv/raksts/izklaide/577013-foto-makslas-cienitaji-riga-ierodas-uz-starptautisko-makslas-gadatirgu-art-riga-fair).