The 1st Baltic Awards – a prestigious award that unites the achievements of the Baltic States in culture and science - was presented in Riga

On May 13, the solemn Baltic Awards ceremony was held at the Latvian National Museum of Art for outstanding representatives of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia for their contribution to the development of art, science and architecture, highlighting the importance of the region in the European context.

The winners were determined by the members of the Baltic Awards Honorary Selection Committee, which includes such prominent public figures, such as Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, the former President of Latvia, politician, public figure, Valdis Zatlets, the former President of Latvia, politician, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the former President of Estonia, politician, Taavi Rõivas, the former Prime Minister of Estonia, Ivars Kalviņš, the President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Jūras Banys, the President of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Pēteris Vasks, the world-famous Latvian composer, Jānis Šipkēvics, the Latvian journalist, Chairman of the Board of Radio SWH, Officer of the Order of the Three Stars, Jens-Christian Pastille, the General Director, Managing Partner of Rödl & Partner in the Baltics and Northern Europe, Sols Normans Bukingolts, the former advisor on economic issues to the former President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, and Emanuels Grišpūns, the diplomat, and entrepreneur. The chairperson of the committee is the founder of the foundation, opera singer Inese Galante.

The Baltic Awards gala award ceremony was opened by an excellent performance by the State Choir Latvija. This majestic musical performance merged into a single rhythm with the significance of the event and its eminent goals. The ceremony continued with music performed by talented and bright performers, the laureates of the "Ineses Galantes Talanti" (Inese Galante’s Talents) competition - the percussion ensemble Ekho.

The winners were determined in four nominations – “Science”, “Architecture”, “Art”, and “Music”. Besides, during the Baltic Awards ceremony, two Grand Awards for Lifetime Achievement to society and the special awards of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet “Baltic Awards the Opera Rising Star” were presented.

The Baltic Awards were presented to:

/ To the representative of Lithuania – for a significant contribution to science; 

/ To the representative of Latvia – for a significant contribution to art and music;

/ To the representative of Estonia – for a significant contribution to architecture.

Gediminas Račiukaitis won the Baltic Awards in the nomination “Science”. 

Academician of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Laser Technologies and Chief Researcher of the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology. A well-known Lithuanian specialist in the development of world-class laser technologies.

The award was presented by Leonas Valkūnas - Head of the Department of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. 

Other nominees nominated by the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences: 

/ Jurgis Kazimieras Staniškis

/ Giedrius Antanas Kuprevičius.

The Baltic Awards in the nomination “Architecture” were awarded to Ralf Lõoke and Maarja Kask (SALTO), participants of the Venice Biennale of Modern Art, winners of more than 100 competitions in architecture and art. The practice has gained international recognition for its public architecture projects, which challenge the re-evaluation of public space in the context of current social, aesthetic and economic concepts. 

The award was presented by Aet Ader, the President of the Estonian Association of Architects. 

Other nominees nominated by the Estonian Association of Architects:

/ Sille Pihlak and Siim Tuksam (PART) 

/ Kalle Vellevoog (Architectural Office JVR) 

In the nomination “Art”, the Baltic Awards was awarded to the duo of artists working with porcelain, Ingūna Skuja & Melisa Braden (SKUJA BRADEN).  The duo is well-known for their bright, extravagant handwriting, unconventional forms, and ambitious choice of subjects. In 2022, they represented Latvia at the 59th Venice Biennale of Modern Art with more than 300 works. 

The award was presented by Andris Vītoliņš, Professor at the Art Academy of Latvia.

Other nominees nominated by the Art Academy of Latvia: 

/ Raitis un Rasa Šmiti 

/ Amanda Ziemele 

In the nomination “Music”, the Baltic Award was received by the outstanding Latvian composer and pianist Raimonds Pauls, who is popular all over the world and the author of more than 3,000 compositions.

The award was presented by Liena Edvardsa, the Director General of LaIPA.

Other nominees nominated by LaIPA:

/ State Choir Latvija 

/ the singer Dons 

There were also two Baltic Awards Grand Prizes awarded during the ceremony for Lifetime Achievement to society – to the composer Raimonds Pauls and to Gints Zilbalodis, director of the animated film “Flow”, and Matīss Kaža, the producer of the animated film “Flow”. The awards were presented by the founder of the foundation, opera singer Inese Galante, the Chairman of the Board of Radio SWH Jānis Šipkēvics, and the world-famous Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks. 

The special award of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet "Baltic Awards the Opera Rising Star" was received by the young soloist, soprano Annija Kristiāna Ādamsone. The award was presented by the Chairman of the Board of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet ​Sandis Voldiņš. 

There was a draw held during the ceremony to determine the order in which nominations would be distributed among the three countries for the next year. In 2026 the Baltic Awards will be awarded to:

/ To the representative of Lithuania – for a significant contribution to art and music;

/ To the representative of Latvia – for a significant contribution to architecture.

/ To the representative of Estonia – for a significant contribution to science.

The ceremonial event was attended by ambassadors and embassy representatives from the United Arab Emirates, United States of America (USA), China, Austria, Lithuania, Italy, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. There were many cultural figures, business and public figures among the guests of the event. 

The Baltic Awards award ceremony was hosted by Valdis Melderis. 

The next event within the framework of the extensive project Baltic Awards will be summer concerts in Jurmala. On 17 August at 18:00, a concert will be held in the Small Hall of the Dzintari Concert Hall, featuring the brightest talents, the winners of the “Ineses Galantes talanti” competition (Inese Galante’s Talents), and on 17 August at 20:00 in Dzintari Concert Hall - concert "GALA GALANTE, THREE TENORS & FRIENDS", featuring world-famous Latvian and foreign performers.

Project partners: Jurmala City Council, Anders Walls Stiftelse, Rödl&Partner, LIAA, National Opera and Ballet, Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga Airport (RIX). 

Informative partners: TV3, SWH, Pastaiga, Visual Media, L’Officiel.

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