Latvian Academy of Culture celebrates its 35th anniversary
Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) celebrated its 35th anniversary on December 29, 2025, marking the beginning of the academy’s anniversary year. In three and a half decades, LAC has become a significant research centre for culture, arts and creative industries both in Latvia and internationally.
In his congratulatory speech on the academy’s anniversary, Dāvis Sīmanis, rector of Latvian Academy of Culture, emphasized its historical and ideational basis: The founding of Latvian Academy of Culture 35 years ago coincided with Latvia‘s restoration of independence. Professor Pēteris Laķis’ vision was to establish a higher education institution of culture that would produce intellectually active and free-spirited arts and culture professionals. The LAC has undergone tremendous development throughout this period. Thank you to everyone who was involved in this process, especially to the rectors – professors Pēteris Laķis, professor Jānis Siliņš, and professor Rūta Muktupāvela for the invaluable contribution in making the LAC a modern, internationally recognised, and creatively flourishing institute of higher education!
The celebrations kicked off on January 19th at the LAC staff Christmas event, in which the academy’s team reflected on achievements, thanked each other for their contributions, and collectively launched the succession of festivities in honour of the anniversary year.
During the evening LAC staff were honoured for excellent work and contribution in the development of the academy, as they were presented with annual awards in several categories:
· Person of the Year in Administration – LAC head accountant Gita Kalniņa:
· Person of the Year in Working with Students – lecturer at the LAC Department of Cross-cultural Communication and Foreign Languages Ana Leon Manzanero;
· Person of the Year in Academic Work – professor, Head of the LAC National School of Performing Arts Līga Ulberte;
· Person of the Year in Research Activity Coordination – LAC project administrative manager Rasa Laua;
· Person of the Year in Science – associate professor, lead researcher at the LAC Culture and Arts institute Maija Spuriņa;
· Innovator of the Year in Science – lecturer, researcher at the LAC Culture and Arts institute Līga Vinogradova;
· Person of the Year in Performing Arts – lecturer at the LAC National School of Performing Arts Kārlis Krūmiņš;
· Person of the Year in Audiovisual Arts – lecturer at the LAC National Film School Andrejs Verhoustinskis;
· Person of the Year in Creative Process Management – lecturer, Director of LAC Production and Marketing Department Kristīne Freiberga.
A special atmosphere was set by dancers Anna Marija Puķe, Rūdis Vilsons, and mixed choir SŌLA with a dance performance “Savā starpā” (choreographer Sintija Skrabe).
The 35th anniversary year of the Latvian Academy of Culture will consist of a series of special events – including the unveiling of the new LAC visual identity, an alumni reunion, and the LAC information day, which will take place in a different, unprecedented format.