Renovation, rebuilding and restoration of the exhibition hall ARSENĀLS

The Ministry of Culture is implementing a programme of European Union funds, within the framework of which several historical objects are being restored and the Arsenāls building is one of them.

Māra Lāce, director of the Latvian National Museum of Art: “This impressive architectural structure in Old Riga has always captured the public's imagination, both with the developments that have taken place here, and with the potential of using this building in the future. This place, with its architectural features, the dimensions of the rooms, and with its location, has meant a lot to the residents of our city, society, tourists, and this place has gained more and more of a reputation as an active venue for expressions of contemporary art. We are currently feeling the fact that we are missing this showroom, we are sorely lacking it.

In Riga, there is really a very tense situation with the lack of large, serious exhibition halls, they are necessary for artists, because they have to work with large halls to set bigger and better goals, to develop and improve.” The Arsenāls building is an architectural monument. Built in 1832, this classical and Empire-style building is unique and has its own character. The entrance vestibule will remain as an entrance point after the reconstruction.

Here, the vaults are almost 10 metres high. This is a unique wooden staircase. Flat and tall, with no analogue in Baltic architecture. After the reconstruction, it will be significantly modernised, but at the same time preserving and treating the cultural and historical heritage with extreme care.