Supporting artistic freedom and creative excellence in Latvia

On Monday, October 20, a special event took place at the Latvian National Museum of Art – announcement of the Vija Celmins Foundation Grant Recipient. This year, the grant was awarded to artist Ieva Putniņa.

The grant, established by the world-renowned Latvian-born American artist Vija Celmins in collaboration with the Latvian National Museum of Art and Ellex in Latvia, is awarded annually to one Latvian artist or artist collective with a prize of USD 30,000. Its purpose is to provide substantial support for creative work and to promote art patronage in Latvia, enabling artists to work freely and develop their unique artistic vision.

This year, 85 artists and artist collectives applied for the grant. The jury, composed of art historian Elita Ansone, founder of the “Kim?” Contemporary Art Centre Zane Čulkstēna, and artists and curators Kaspars Groševs, Maija Kurševa, and Inga Meldere, selected 11 candidates, from which the grant recipient was chosen.

The grant is a long-term project that the foundation has committed to sustaining for ten years (2025–2034), providing stable and inspiring support to Latvian artists. Ellex in Latvia proudly continues its tradition of cultural patronage and supports this important initiative, strengthening the development of contemporary art in Latvia since 2017 in cooperation with the Latvian National Museum of Art.