With the premiere of “Planet Amber”, the Latvian Presidency continues work on the European Capital of Culture program

Created on 2014-10-10

The premiere of “VFS Films” documentary “Planet Amber” which took place on Thursday, October 9 at the “Splendid Palace” cinema in Riga was a symbolic beginning to a successful cooperation between the foundation “Riga 2014” and the Secretariat of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union regarding the development of the culture program.

Photo: splendidpalace.lvPlanet Amber” is the first project from the European Capital of Culture program that will also continue as a part of the public diplomacy and culture program of the Latvian Presidency.

The film is composed of video material captured from the Amber expedition that was carried out within the “Riga 2014” program. It is a story about two Latvians and their journey along the Ancient Amber road from Latvia to India, exploring the cultural, historical and modern aspects of amber. A 12 part television series called “On the Amber Side” was shown on Latvian Television at the beginning of this year.

The continuity and simultaneity of the artistically superior projects of the European Capital of Culture and other internationally significant events were taken into account when working with the culture program of the Latvian Presidency. This is an excellent opportunity to consolidate Latvian resources and, if effectively planned in a longer term, will create a bright and effective presentation of Latvian culture internationally. The integration of the European Capital of Culture program constitutes good conditions for a long term cooperation and selection of good quality products to provide a basis for a successful Presidency.

During the Latvian Presidency, in first half of next year, other ambitious cultural events are also going to take place in Latvia and around the world which began as European Capital of Culture events with the support of “Riga 2014”.

Among them:
• The exhibition "1514. The Book. 2014" in the Book Museum Hall of the National Library of Latvia and Academic readings “Content of the 21st Century” (until April 1, 2015);
• Latvian Kinetic art exhibition “Visionary Structures. From Ioganson to Johansons” in “Bozar” Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels (February 12, 2015 - May 31, 2015);
• Exhibition “Amber – Jewel of the Baltic Sea” in The National History Museum of the Republic of Belarus, Minsk, and The Kyiv History Museum, Kiev (April 14, 2015 - the end of the May, 2015);
• Exhibition “What Else Does Amber Have in Mind?” by textile artist Iveta Vecenāne in Neumunster Abbey, Luxembourg (May 7, 2015 – June 8, 2015)
• Latvian original opera “Valentina” in Deutsche Oper Berlin (May 19, 2015);
• An exhibition dedicated to amber in Goldsmits’ Centre, London (May 25, 2015 – July 7, 2015);
• Screenings of documentary “Planet Amber” outside Latvia.