The charitable cultural project "Ukraine. Residence of Freedom" will take place in Riga, Latvia, leading up to Ukraine's Independence Day. Artists from Ukraine and Latvia will come together to explore the theme of Freedom through art.

The international charity project "Ukraine. Residence of Freedom" is initiated by a collaborative Ukrainian-Latvian team. It will unite artists from both countries in an artistic residency scheduled to take place from August 24 to 29 this year in the heart of Riga, at Jaunavu Street's "Rātes pasāža" and within the premises of Riga City Council. The event is open to everyone, free of charge.

The artworks created during the residency will be showcased at an auction, accessible both offline and online. All proceeds from the auction will go towards the development and implementation of a psychosocial reintegration program for defenders after injury, managed by the "Volunteer Hundred" non-governmental organization.

The mission of the event "Ukraine. The Residence of Freedom" is to unite artists and people from different countries in their pursuit of Freedom.

Over 20 artists from Ukraine and Latvia, including Monoconda, ASAKI, Darya Kalashnikova, Hanna Bogachuk, Linda Vilka, Those Guys Lighting, Rick Feds, and others, have already formed creative partnerships to present their works during the residency. Additionally, the organizers are showcasing works by renowned Ukrainian photographers Vitaly Yurasov and Maryana Shafro.

The program also encompasses gastronomic performances titled "The Price of Freedom" curated by producer Gundega Skudriņa in collaboration with chefs Yuriy Kovrizhenko (UA) and Eriks Dreibants and Martiņš Sirma (LV).

An international team is working on the project, including Natalia Chyzhova (UA), Gundega Skudriņa (LV), Tom Vais (LV), Dasha Bilenko (UA), Alex Morozova (UA), and others.

"We believe in art's ability to transcend borders and bring people together. We aim to promote international and creative dialogue, inviting the audience to contemplate the theme of Freedom on a profound emotional level," said Natalia Chyzhova, the project initiator from Plombir Event (UA).

"Each artwork created by artist pairs represents a story of Freedom. It's a synergy of two nations in contemporary artistic expression. It's a way for artists to express their stance on the value of Freedom and share it with a broader audience," emphasized Gundega Skudriņa, the event's executive producer from the team "Skudras metropole" (LV).

Residents and visitors of Riga can attend the event for free between August 26-29, witnessing the creative process and participating in curator-led tours and performances.

In Ukraine, you can track the residency's progress on the project's social media accounts (Instagram) and participate in the online auction platform, which organizers have announced on the website https://freedomua.world/.

 

Background Information: "Ukraine. The Residence of Freedom" is a project that unites like-minded individuals from Ukraine and Europe, who seek to overcome barriers and showcase the power of unity through art. Initiated by Natalia Chyzhova, Plombir Event (Ukraine), in partnership with Gundega Skudriņa, Skudras Metropole (Latvia), and art curator Dasha Bilenko (Ukraine), the team plans for future residencies to take place in Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, and other countries.