On Thursday, September 5, Valmiera Theater hosted the long-awaited opening ceremony of the renovated theater building after several years of reconstruction and renovation work, which marked a significant milestone in Valmiera's cultural life. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Valmiera Municipality, State Real Estate (SRE), Valmiera Theater, as well as construction companies and architects involved in the project. The opening ceremony featured celebratory speeches and words of gratitude to all those who participated in the theater renovation project.
"Valmiera Theater is an excellent example of how it is possible to preserve historical heritage in the modern construction process. Valmiera Theater puts together an outstanding program every year, so it is a particular pleasure that it will now be performed in a renovated building that meets modern requirements," said Culture Minister Agnese Lāce at the theater's opening.
"For centuries, Valmiera and its residents have been closely connected with the theater. That is why the people of Valmiera treat their theater with a sense of mission. During the theater’s renovation, we worked together to create the contemporary art space "Kurtuve" as its temporary home. With the renovated theater, Valmiera's urban environment has become more modern, and the theater's outstanding team has gained high-quality premises where they can realize their ideas and meet with audiences," said Jānis Baiks, Chairman of the Valmiera District Council, in his opening speech.
Evita Ašeradena, director of Valmiera Theater: "A little over a year ago, we gathered here, where there was only a metal frame of the future Black Box Hall, which has now become the New Hall, and celebrated the topping out ceremony. Even then, almost no one believed that it would be possible to complete it in 14 months. But from the very beginning, we believed, at least I did – because despite changes in the project, changes in builders, new contracts, war and inflation, we had already reached the topping-out ceremony, and that is proof of our collective strength and perseverance. And in the end, we chose to stay in the theater, to rehearse and perform in one part of the building throughout the construction period, even though we didn't know at the time that it would take so long. It was difficult for everyone – both the builders and us, but only the best can endure such things. And Valmiera has the best. And today, as we stand here celebrating the opening of our theater, we are proud of our strength and the experience we have gained. Thank you to everyone who has been with us on this journey – your support and perseverance are what gave us the strength to be in the arts all this time. And now also in these new, beautiful premises."
In her opening speech, Jeļena Gavrilova, member of the board of SJSC State Real Estate emphasized that the reconstruction of Valmiera Theater was a project that not only presented technical challenges, but also had strong emotional value: "Construction projects can sometimes be like a sprint – fast, intense and focused on achieving a quick goal. But this project was much more than that. It was a marathon with an obstacle course – complex, challenging and full of unexpected twists and turns. And we all successfully ran this marathon together, overcoming every obstacle. The reconstruction of the Valmiera Theater was technically complex, requiring not only knowledge and experience from all of us, but also flexibility, patience, and the determination not to give up in the face of difficulties. Today, we can be proud of what we have achieved. The theater building, which now stands out in the landscape of Valmiera as a new cultural symbol, is aesthetically and architecturally attractive, technically improved, and energy efficient. It is ready to welcome both employees and visitors, providing a comfortable environment and creating new opportunities for cultural life."
Iveta Vucena, Financial Director of the construction company Aimasa, emphasized the progress of the construction and the work invested: "When we, the Aimasa team, took on this challenging task – to renovate this building, which is so important to Valmiera, we did it with heart and soul. It was an honor that we felt in every task, in every detail. However, we must admit – it was not easy. But thanks to the mutual understanding and close cooperation of all parties involved, we have achieved something truly remarkable. The renovated façade is not only the face of the theater, but also a story of change, which is particularly highlighted by the terrain created by artist Āris Smildzers – like a living painting in which rusted elements alternate with plays of light, creating movement that invites you to dream and imagine. Fundamental changes have also taken place inside the theatre – a new Black Box hall has been created, engineering systems have been modernised and accessibility has been improved to make the theatre accessible to everyone. The project preserved what is truly important – the historic walls, the structural backbone of the building and its heart – the large stage boards, soaked with the laughter and tears of actors."
During the reconstruction and renovation project, significant improvements were made to the theater. The audience areas were expanded and modernized, a new Black Box-type hall was created, and the theater staff's work spaces were improved. During the opening ceremony, guests had the opportunity to take a tour of the renovated and new premises of the Valmiera Theater, learn about the results of the project, and appreciate the scope of the work that had been done.
The funding attracted by the Ministry of Culture and Valmiera Theatre amounted to EUR 16,310,262 (including VAT), of which EUR 9,547,275 was provided by the European Regional Development Fund under specific support objective measures 4.2.1.2. (Project ID No. 4.2.1.2/18/I/019) and 5.1.1.7. (Project ID No. 5.1.1.7/1/24/001), while the remaining costs were covered by the state budget and Valmiera Theatre funds.
The project was implemented under the European Union's 2014-2020 programming period Operational Programme "Growth and Employment" 4.2.1. Specific support objective "Promoting energy efficiency in public and residential buildings" 4.2.1.2. measure "Promoting energy efficiency in public buildings" and the European Union's Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027 5.1.1. specific support objective "Integrated social, economic and environmental development and promotion of cultural heritage, tourism and safety in urban functional areas" 5.1.1.7. measure "Development of regional cultural infrastructure to improve access to cultural services" within the framework of the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027.
About the Valmiera Theatre building
The Valmiera Drama Theatre building was constructed in 1996, designed by architects Modris Ģelzis, Olita Upaciere, and Juris Gusevs, at the former site of the Latvian Society building. This impressive masonry building with two auditoriums, a theatre museum, an art salon, and a café is not only a cultural and historical landmark, but also an outstanding example of modern architecture of its time. The theatre building is located in the immediate visual vicinity of St Simon’s Lutheran Church, giving it special meaning and an unparalleled aura. It is also part of the protection zone of Valmiera St Simon’s Lutheran Church, Valmiera Castle Ruins, and the town’s medieval fortifications, which is a national architectural heritage site.
During the reconstruction of Valmiera Theatre building, the administrative wing designed by the outstanding architect Modris Ģelzis was preserved, while the technically and visually outdated additions were demolished, updating the place with laconic, modern spaces instead of the awning structures. This transformation will significantly increase the capacity of the administrative part of the building, creating an overall cohesive and aesthetically pleasing appearance that organically fits the urban environment from all perspectives.
About SRE
In accordance with the company's strategy, SRE maintains properties that are necessary for state administration in the long term, while properties that are not necessary for public institutions in the long term and cause losses to the state are sold through public auctions in accordance with the procedure established by law, or the transfer of properties to other owners is considered. Properties in the share capital that cause losses to the capital company and cannot be leased to commercial tenants are put up for sale, thus giving them the opportunity to find a new use.
SRE provides professional real estate management and administration for 427 buildings and structures, including 1,089 buildings with a total area of 0.996 million m2, as well as 591 ha of land under the buildings and 3,261 land properties with a total area of 895 ha. SRE is one of 17 Latvian companies that received the highest platinum award in the 2023 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Institute's “Sustainability Index” assessment, confirming its good management and sustainability. The company was founded in 1996 and its 100% shareholder is the Ministry of Finance.
Additional information for the media:
SJSC "State Real Estate"
Corporate Communications and Sustainability Department
Tel.: +371 20235301
E-mail: komunikacija@vni.lv
(Translated with the help of DeepL Translate)
