246 museums and cultural venues across Latvia to take part in this year's Museum Night

RIGA - On Saturday, May 23, 246 museums and other cultural venues across Latvia will welcome visitors on the Night of Museums, LETA was told at the Culture Ministry.

This is one more cultural venue than last year, Culture Minister Agnese Lace (Progressives) told a press conference. This year, 82 cultural sites will welcome visitors in Riga and its vicinity, 51 in Vidzeme, 49 in Kurzeme, 39 in Latgale, and 25 in Zemgale.

The culture minister noted that, overall, the number of people visiting museums is on the rise, but it has not yet returned to the level it was before the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, the theme of Museum Night is "Adventures of Objects". It echoes a quote from Latvian poet Rainis' "Even a rag was once an evening shirt", reminding that every object has its own story and value.

Kristine Millere, Chair of the Board of the Latvian National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM Latvia), said at the press conference that museums help unite the past and the future, the local and the international, as well as various communities. She pointed out that Museum Night also highlights the less visible work of museums in everyday life. According to Millere, a museum is not just a place, but also a space where people can talk with each other. She stressed that this year's theme, "Adventures of Objects", allows museums to talk about objects as carriers of experiences, memories and values that are important to society.