In 2021, despite the restrictions on gatherings caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, several socially significant events have been successfully held at Rucka Artist Residency. Four international artist residencies have been organized with the participation of 40 artists representing more than 15 different countries. At the end of the residencies, creating open-air exhibitions – “Hidden Treasures” and “Art Spa” in Rucka Park and in urban area of Cesis. Whereas, in Serbia and Montenegro, 10 young Latvian artists from theater and film industries took part in the residencies of the “Invisible Lives” project implemented within the framework of the Creative Europe programme “Culture” of Rucka Art Foundation and cooperation partners Kulturanova (Serbia) and Art365 (Montenegro). In the meantime, educational lectures and workshops were held in person and online on the use of circular economy principles in art, culture, education and business and the connection of Rucka Manor with the history of railways in Latvia.
In August 2021, in collaboration with Cesis Pluriversity and Latvian Association of Contemporary Culture Non-Governmental Organizations during conversation festival “LAMPA”, several discussions on culture, art, education and everyday topics were organized at Rucka Manor. Summer schools and workshops for professionals of the cultural industry were held at the residency by the ISSP, the New Theater Institute of Latvia and the Association of Latvian Young Scientists. Whereas, in the courtyard of Rucka Manor, for the second summer, the Sansusī musical evening in Cesis was traditionally held; it was attended by residents of Cesis, as well as guests from Riga and other parts of Latvia.
We thank our financial supporters Creative Europe program “Culture”, the State Cultural Capital Foundation, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and the Society Integration Foundation, the municipality of Cesis, the grant program “Active Citizens Fund”, which is financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway grant program, as well as cooperation partners Cesis Pluriversity, ISSP, New Theater Institute of Latvia, Sansusī, art space MALA and the Association of Latvian Young Scientists.