At its meeting on September 23, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to support the initiative led by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to reallocate appropriations in the amount of 2 million euros to ensure the financing of urgent and priority cultural infrastructure measures - the construction of the structural unit of the Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMA), the exhibition hall "Arsenāls" and the renovation of the LNMA main building.
The Ministry of Culture has already informed that it has attracted funding from the European Union (EU) for the reconstruction of the exhibition hall “Arsenāls”. As part of the 2nd phase of the reconstruction of the exhibition hall, it is planned to build a mechanical ventilation system and air climate control by 2028, which will meet the requirements for storing works of art and the well-being of employees. The project also provides for a complete reconstruction of the building’s interior decoration and reconstruction of engineering networks in accordance with safety and modern requirements. In addition, it is planned to carry out energy efficiency improvement measures – roof insulation and replacement, as well as the reconstruction of Torņa Street in the section from Jēkaba Street to Arsenāla Street, building a rainwater drainage system within its framework, which will solve the high groundwater level around the real estate and its inflow into the basement of the real estate.
As informed by the SJSC "State Real Estate" the additional funding of 1.82 million euros will be used for unforeseen construction works in "Arsenāls," taking into account discoveries made during the dismantling work to improve the structural condition of the building, as well as for previously planned improvement works in the courtyard of the building at Torņa Street 1, Riga, on the side of the "Saeimas" building, including the adaptation of the construction project developed in 2021 to modern building use and management needs and safety standards, taking into account that the conditions for the use and maintenance of buildings have changed significantly in recent years.
The main building of the LNMA at 1 Jaņa Rozentāla laukums, Riga, has been in intensive use since its opening on 4 May 2016: the building serves not only as a place for the museum's professional activities – permanent exhibitions and regularly changing exhibitions – but also as a symbol of national culture and a representative venue for national and international events. High-level public and state representation events have taken place in the museum premises, including, for example, the bilateral meeting of French President Emmanuel Macron with Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (2020), the meeting of Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken (2022), the meeting of European Parliament President Roberta Metsola with Latvian youth and politicians (2024), as well as regular receptions of officials and diplomatic delegations from various countries. These events not only confirm the high symbolic value of the museum's premises, but they also mean increased workload and impose higher representational requirements on the museum's public infrastructure.
The funding has been reallocated from the (MoF) budget sub-programme, which was intended to carry out renovation works in the administrative building located at Smilšu Street 1, Riga. Since the building is currently uninhabited and the future purpose of the building, as well as its possible user, is unknown, it has been decided to redirect the funding to the purposes of arranging cultural infrastructure.
Additional information:
Lita Kokale
Head of the Public Relations Division, Ministry of Culture
(+ 371) 26469946
Lita.Kokale@km.gov.lv
(Translated with the help of DeepL Translate)
