Liepāja Culture Award 2025 awarded to the team behind the Liepāja 400th anniversary concert production “Personal Code: Liepāja”

On 27 February, the ceremonial “Liepāja Culture Award 2025” event took place at the cinema Kino BALLE, where the city’s most outstanding cultural events and personalities were honoured. The Liepāja Culture Award of the Year 2025 was presented to the team behind the emotionally powerful story of the city’s identity created for the concert production celebrating Liepāja’s 400th anniversary, “Personal Code: Liepāja.” This year’s award was received by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, SIA Liepaja Music, SIA Šarmants, SIA Bang!, Maija Kalniņa, Uldis Marhilevičs and Jānis Strazds.

This year’s Liepāja Culture Award ceremony also turned into a surprise for the invited guests gathered at the Liepāja Latvian Society House. As soon as the cinema doors opened and the evening’s “director” (actor Ģirts Krūmiņš) and a confused “producer” (actress Madara Kalna) appeared before the audience, Liepāja’s cultural figures found themselves not only in a cinema but also cast as the leading characters in a film about Liepāja’s cultural life in 2025. The ceremony was created by playwright Rasa Bugavičute Pēce, director Edgars Niklasons and video projection artist Dāvis Kristaps Aigars, while the musical atmosphere was provided by musician Mārtiņš Jansons.

In total, 33 nominations were submitted for the Liepāja Culture Award 2025, from which the jury selected nine laureates. In addition, this year the Chairman of the Liepāja City Council, Gunārs Ansiņš, presented his special award. A week-long public vote also determined the People’s Choice Award 2025.

Liepāja Culture Award 2025 recipients:

• Culture Award of the Year 2025 – Liepāja 2027 Foundation, SIA Liepaja Music, SIA Šarmants, SIA Bang!, Maija Kalniņa, Uldis Marhilevičs and Jānis Strazds for creating an emotionally powerful story of the city’s identity in the concert production “Personal Code: Liepāja” celebrating Liepāja’s 400th anniversary.
• Mixed Choir “Laiks” of the Liepāja Folk Art and Culture Centre for outstanding artistic performance in creating a contemporary choral music experience through the choir’s 20th anniversary concert cycle “Seasons of Time” and the concert “LAIK(s)METS” – €2,100 prize.
• SIA Tipogrāfijas radošais kvartāls for a significant contribution to Liepāja’s cultural life in 2025 by implementing a diverse programme of concerts, art events and community activities – €2,100 prize.
• Creative team of “Liepāja – Latvia’s Youth Capital 2025” for implementing a city-wide cultural and participation process, bringing together 38 events to engage young people, highlight youth policy and represent youth interests.
• Liepāja Theatre and the organising team for launching a new initiative – the first international theatre festival in Liepāja, “Theatre in Close-Up.”
• SIA Lielais dzintars for organising a high-quality artistic festival celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Liepāja Concert Hall.
• Liepāja Museum for creating the extensive exhibition “Vibrant Liepāja,” dedicated to the city’s 400th anniversary.
• SIA Šarmants for promoting Liepāja’s cultural image internationally by winning the Eventex Awards gold prize, developing the cultural venue Bankhaus and creating innovative cultural events.
• Liepāja Puppet Theatre for the productions “Hansel and Gretel” and “Metamorphosis,” creating a contemporary puppet theatre experience for different generations and expanding audiences’ perceptions of the role of puppet theatre today.
• People’s Choice Award 2025 – Liepāja Education Authority for implementing a wide cultural programme: the initiative “400 Works for Liepāja,” the grand concert “The Great Story of Little Liepāja,” and a student tribute to the city on its 400th anniversary.
• Chairman of the Liepāja City Council’s Special Award – Liepāja Children and Youth Centre for outstanding organisational work ensuring the successful participation and achievements of 1,286 children and young people from Liepāja in the 13th Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival.

This year marked the 15th presentation of the Liepāja Culture Awards, honouring cultural figures who have helped raise the profile of Liepāja over the past year through creative ideas, dedicated work and the ability to reach a wide audience.

The jury of the Liepāja Culture Award was chaired by Nauris Lazdāns, Deputy Head of the Liepāja Culture Administration, and included musician and cultural worker Valdis Skujiņš, designer Kristaps Štobis, journalist Ligita Kupčus-Apēna, event producer Daiga Eilande, playwright Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce, and conductor Atvars Lakstīgala.

Prepared by

Evija Timbra
Liepāja Culture Administration
Public Relations and Marketing Project Manager
Phone: +371 63 483 941
Email: Evija.Timbra@liepaja.lv