Riga, Oct 30 (LETA) - Cesis will host one to three national-level cultural events every month next year as part of the Cesis - Latvian Capital of Culture 2025 program, Aleksandrs Abramovs, spokesman for the Cesis regional council, told LETA.

Cesis municipality had prepared a program application to participate in the European Union's European Capital of Culture 2027 initiative, but did not win the title. The municipality is committed to implement the cultural program in 2025, declaring Cesis the Latvian Capital of Culture.

Abramovs explained that it will be a year-long program of events with the motto "Culture in heads, castles and yards".

The Cesis 2025 program is designed to empower local cultural workers, to highlight their talents and also to shine a new light on both existing and potential cultural sites. One to three national-level events dedicated specifically to this year are planned each month, as well as several events of local interest, the spokesperson said.

The opening of the Year of Culture will take place on January 18, 2025, at the Cesis Concert Hall, with an opening concert featuring Ludwig Van Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, followed by a disco in Vienibas Square and a traditional dance night in Giksi. A large-scale installation is also planned for the city, with a public engagement and information function.

Traditionally, the warm season of the year will be richer in events: city and organization festivals, a special multimedia art performance Mals, Richard Wagner's opera Parsifal, Elina Garanca's concert, Art Walk, culinary festivals, an international cello competition, poetry days and literary cafes, Latvian weavers' festival, art exhibitions, the street art festival Cesis Mooove and many other various cultural events.

In order to highlight the fact that culture is part of people's everyday lives, the year will be organized around five thematic blocks - democracy, education, environment, renewal and excellence of the Cesis region. One of these key words will dominate each event. The program is designed to be as interdisciplinary as possible - from concerts, exhibitions, competitions to unique sports and conference offers.

The theme of democracy will be highlighted at the Lampa conversation festival, as well as at a number of planned conferences. Literary, poetry and other similar events will highlight the strong educational environment in the region.

The Cesis region is committed to becoming a bioregion and will therefore also highlight the importance of the environment and climate by offering various excursions and educational seminars related to sustainable living and farming. 

Atis Eglins-Eglitis (New Unity), the deputy chairman of the Cesis regional council, pointed out that work on the program is ongoing and will continue throughout 2025 - joint events with national-level cultural organizations, several embassies in Latvia, as well as projects with international partners - such as Tartu, this year's European Capital of Culture, and several of the county's cooperation cities - are planned.

Founded in 1206, Cesis is the third oldest town in Latvia and the birthplace of the Latvian flag.