Valmiera, Latvia – A celebration of traditional craftsmanship is underway in Valmiera as the country’s oldest folk applied arts studio, “Valmiera,” marks its 80th anniversary with a modern exhibition. The event highlights the enduring relevance of heritage skills in contemporary Latvian culture and coincides with the city’s hosting of the Latvian Art Award program in April.
The exhibition, titled “Hands and Threads,” opened at the Valmiera Museum on Saturday, March 7, 2026. It showcases the work of studio members and celebrates eight decades of preserving and innovating in folk art traditions. The exhibition is also part of the program for the Latvian Art Award, which will be presented in Valmiera for the first time this year, establishing a new tradition for the country’s highest visual arts honor.
Latvian Radio spoke with studio members prior to the opening, noting the busy preparations to ensure the anniversary exhibition told a compelling story. Zanda Laima Blaua, a studio participant, explained, “Now the decor for the big exhibition is being created, the exhibition is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of our studio, the oldest studio in Latvia!” She added, “This is a significant event for the studio and for all of Valmiera.” Blaua contributed four lacework pieces, three blankets, five pairs of mittens, and bracelets to the exhibition.
The studio’s origins trace back to 1946, shortly after the end of World War II, when it began as a gathering place for local craft enthusiasts. Vija Gustsone, a studio member with 57 years of experience, recalled the early days. “It was considered a handicraft circle, and they had slowly begun to weave simple handicrafts – scarves, belts, and then, when we moved to the cultural center, we were immediately able to purchase looms and start creating everything properly,” she said.
The exhibition, running through April 22, 2026, will be accompanied by a series of workshops. These include introductory and advanced weaving classes on March 21 and April 4, respectively, as well as an art workshop with Elīza Māra on April 17 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, titled “Drellis, but izšūts” (Drill, but embroidered). A creative workshop led by Baiba Minci, the studio’s head, will offer participants the opportunity to create everyday accessories, and a communal knitting afternoon is also planned. More information about the activities can be found on the Valmiera Museum and Valmiera Municipality websites.
The exhibition is presented as a tribute to generations of weavers whose hands have woven threads into blankets, songs, stories, and lives. Organizers have used the motif of threads as a central symbol of time, memory, and identity, creating a spatial arrangement where the artworks appear to float among white threads, forming a “flying mountain of mittens” and a “spiral of endless blankets” that connect past and present artisans.
