Riga is ready to build acoustic concert hall - Stakis

RIGA - Riga is ready to build the acoustic concert hall, Riga Mayor Martins Stakis (Progressives/For) told LETA.

Commenting on the decision of the Development Committee of the National Acoustic Concert Hall Project to support Riga Congress House as the best site for the concert hall, Stakis praised the committee's decision, saying that it concludes the intense work.

The idea about the acoustic concert hall in the Congress House came in November 2020 after Stakis took up the position of the Riga mayor. Now the finish line is close, but the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers still is needed.

Stakis believes that the coordination of the process should be similar to that with the Song Festival Open Air State when the city of Riga is building it while the government is lending money. He did not exclude a possibility that the government might also participate in construction of the concert hall with co-funding.

Another issue that should be discussed is compensation to Rigas Nami company who has been renovating Riga Congress House so far as almost EUR 1.2 million have been invested in renovation already.

As reported, the Development Committee of the National Acoustic Concert Hall Project has agreed on support to Riga Congress House as the best site for the concert hall, LETA learned from Culture Ministry's spokeswoman Lita Kokale.

Culture Minister Nauris Puntulis (National Alliance) said that that the acoustic concert hall project in Riga is the most important priority in his work, and it has also been included in the government declaration.