Valmiera region launches three-year contemporary culture project
Valmiera County has started the project “KURTUVE: Contemporary Culture for Everyone,” involving the conversion of a former boiler house into a contemporary art space and the implementation of three partner programs.
The Valmiera region has officially begun a new phase in contemporary culture development. The three-year project “KURTUVE: Contemporary Culture for Everyone” will continue the renovation of a former boiler house in central Valmiera, transforming it into a contemporary art space called “Kurtuve.” Simultaneously, three partner organizations – the association “Orbīta,” the “Latvian Dance Information Center,” and the Valmiera Summer Theatre Festival – will offer programs covering residencies, dance, and theatre performances.
Municipal council chairman Jānis Baiks emphasizes that European Union funding will allow both the building’s reconstruction and content creation. The project is based on community involvement and cultural accessibility, especially in the regional context. Liene Jakobsone, head of the Valmiera County Culture Department, adds that content will be developed outside the new space so that by the time of opening, contemporary art will already be organically integrated into residents‘ experiences.
The building’s renovation will preserve industrial architectural features, while the facade will include a glazed vestibule around the historic chimney. The project includes ventilation, acoustics, and universal design solutions to ensure accessibility for people with functional disabilities.
Orbīta’s program “Prakse” will operate in the former Strenči doctor’s office building, where artists, starting with Reinis Dzudzilo, will collaborate with the local community, including patients and staff of the Strenči Psychoneurological Hospital. The Latvian Dance Information Center’s program “Dejas māja nāk” is already running at Kurtuve, opening on July 28 with the Lithuanian performance “Clap & Slap.” The Valmiera Summer Theatre Festival’s program “KUR? TUVĀK” will focus on working with children and youth, starting in 2027.
The core principle of the project is accessibility – physical, emotional, and financial. Plans include ticket discounts, free activities, and the involvement of consultants to ensure accessibility of the environment and content.
Kurtuve already serves as a temporary home for the Valmiera Theatre and has received recognition: it was a finalist for the 2025 New European Bauhaus award and received accolades in the Latvian Architecture and Design annual awards.
