From May 6 to May 30, graduates of the Master’s programs at the Art Academy of Latvia (LMA) are invited to apply for the Linstow Art Award, a targeted support program designed to provide structured and sustainable assistance to the development of the creative industries. The initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness and visibility of emerging talents in both the Latvian and international cultural arenas.
The mission of the Linstow Art Award is to give long-term support to young Latvian artists, ensuring a stronger art community and a lasting presence of art in the city.
“The Linstow Art Award represents a significant investment in the professional development of emerging artists and in strengthening the creative industries, positioning them as an integral and sustainable part of urban growth. It offers not only essential financial and practical resources for launching artistic careers but also builds a platform for visibility and growth. We believe culture plays a crucial role in shaping urban identity and social resilience – fostering inclusivity and community cohesion. By supporting the next generation of creative professionals, we create added value for urban development, business environments, and public engagement,”
emphasizes Evija Majevska, Commercial Director at Linstow Baltic.
The Linstow Art Award offers targeted financial and practical support during the initial stages of young artists’ careers, including access to art studios and funding for materials. Each year, the program aims to support three of the most talented graduates of the Art Academy of Latvia’s master’s program.
Three Linstow Art Award awardees will receive:
- A monetary award of € 3000 (net)
- One year of access to an art studio at the creative SPORTA 2 quarter in Riga (www.sporta2.com)
- The opportunity to exhibit artworks
Eligible applicants for the Linstow Art Award are graduates of the Master’s programs at the Art Academy of Latvia from the Departments of Visual Arts, Visual and Plastic Arts, Audiovisual and Media Arts, or Design. Applications are invited from both current students in the process of graduating and expected to obtain their degree in 2025, as well as artists who completed these programs in the past three years (in 2022, 2023, or 2024).
Application period: from May 6th to May 30th, 2025.
To apply for the Linstow Art Award competition, the applicant must complete the online application form at www.linstowartaward.lv, which includes:
- Artwork concept description;
- Images of the artwork;
- Video introduction of the artist;
- CV;
- Artworks portfolio;
- Applicant’s details (name, surname, contact information, year of graduation, art program of studies at LMA, and an optional personal website or online portfolio).
Submissions will be assessed by an international jury composed of Latvian and foreign experts with experience in contemporary art, design, architecture, and cultural policy. The decision of three LAA awardees will made by the Jury, based on the applicant’s given information according to evaluation criteria:
- previous work and future potential of the artist;
- formal and thematic aspects of the artwork and the relationship between both;
- craftsmanship in the execution of the artwork, technical skills;
- relevance of the message of the artwork.
The 2025 Linstow Art Award jury consists of:
- Paulina Rider Wilhelmsen – Founder Linstow Art Award and Lise Wilhelmsen Art Award. Philanthropist, Art Patron, Art Collector and producer.
- Inga Lāce – Jury Leader of Linstow Art Award. Chief Curator, Almaty Museum of Art, Kazakhstan. C-MAP Central and Eastern Europe Fellow at MoMA, New York.
- Joanna Nordin – Artistic Director, Bonniers Konsthall.
- Susanne Østby Sæter – Curator for photography and new media, Henie Onstad Art Centre.
- Vita Liberte – Latvian lawyer, art collector, patron, and entrepreneur, founder of VV Foundation supporting contemporary art and nurturing young artists from Latvia and the Baltic region.
- Dina Suhanova – Architect, project manager and researcher at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Design and Architecture, Art Academy of Latvia.
Established in 2025, the Linstow Art Award is a collaboration between Linstow Baltic, a leading real estate developer in the Baltics, and the Art Academy of Latvia, aimed at providing a modern platform for emerging Latvian artists to launch and develop their professional careers. The award is part of Linstow Baltic’s long-term sustainability strategy, which integrates art and business into a shared platform to support talent development and the evolution of vibrant, creative urban spaces.
More information: www.linstowartaward.lv
