Latvian crafts – Creative traditions and cultural values
If you are planning a trip to Latvia and want to enjoy a taste of Baltic culture, we definitely recommend getting to know local craft traditions. Visiting artisan workshops and master classes, ethnographic museums, events in Riga and other cities of Latvia will allow you to learn more about traditional Latvian crafts, observe artisan master classes and even participate in the creative process.
Applied folk art has rich and ancient traditions that reflect Latvian culture, lifestyle, and contemporary aesthetic values. Latvian craft processes are very diverse and depend on the historical need for application in the respective region and time period. Today, applied folk art is represented by seven types of masters: textile artists, jewellers, weavers, ceramists, woodcarvers, leather craftsmen, metalsmiths, and artisans.
History of crafts in Latvia
Latvian craft traditions are part of Latvia’s cultural heritage, which developed over centuries as craftsmen made everyday necessities, as well as ornaments that had not only functional but aesthetic value. The raw materials used in Latvian crafts were those that were available in nature – wood, metal, linen, clay and leather.
Events at ethnographic and open-air museums
Latvian ethnographic museums are a great opportunity to get acquainted with the cultural and historical heritage of Latvia. They not only highlight traditional ways of life, but offer a unique opportunity to see and participate in various traditional craft activities. Ethnographic museums allow visitors to participate in events and fairs related to crafts and traditional Latvian trades. The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia offers an extensive exhibition of traditional Latvian crafts. The museum regularly organises fairs involving artisans who are also selling their products, as well as workshops where visitors can learn about traditional crafts. Similar workshops are offered by the “Vītolnieki” complex and the Jūrmala Open-Air Museum. Latgale Museum of Cultural History in Rēzekne is one of the most important custodians of the cultural and historical heritage of the Latgale region. The museum boasts an extensive collection of more than 70,000 items of cultural and historical, artistic, memorial and scientific value. It is also home to the largest permanent exhibition of Latgale ceramics in Latvia and the world, and provides exhibitions and creative workshops.
Craft workshops in ancient castles
Historic castles can familiarise visitors with craft traditions and regional historical handicraft techniques. Learn about the work of traditional ceramists, weavers, woodworkers and other craftsmen at sites such as The New Castle of Sigulda and Castle Quarter, located next to the picturesque Gauja river valley and only an hour away from Riga. In the reconstructed stable building, visitors are invited to visit workshops of jewellery, textiles, leather and traditional Sigulda spokes, an exhibition gallery that features original craft and art exhibitions, as well as other craft events. During the summer season, guests of Cēsis Medieval Castle can not only see the castle ruins, but also visit artisan workshops, where they can meet masters of centuries-old crafts dressed in authentic mediaeval costumes. Jaunpils Castle also offers interesting activities such as felting, pot making, weaving and spinning. It is also worth visiting the Tērvete wooden castle and history museum, where the Zemgale celebration is held every year with a wide range of workshops and mediaeval combat displays.
Craft and creative masterclasses
Crafts and creative masterclasses provide another forum for discovering Latvia crafts. For those who want to engage in many different activities, Dzīvesziņas un arodu sēta is the place to be. The farm is located in the Old Town of Jelgava and was created with the aim of popularising ancient Latvian craft skills such as ceramics, weaving and bread baking. Ventspils House of Crafts has photography, weaving and pottery workshops, as well as a souvenir shop. The craft house regularly hosts exhibitions dedicated to arts and crafts themes and events that enrich the city’s cultural life. At the Dobele Craft House, you can weave, knit, crochet, braid, spin wool, make jewellery, embroider, spin, skein, and make clay. Similar activities are offered at the Alsunga Craft House, the Ludza Crafts Centre, and the KasTe Traditional Culture Initiative Centre. The Līvāni Glass and Crafts Centre outlines the history of Līvāni glass fabric, explains the technology behind glassware production, and provides an opportunity to view several thousand glass products made at the factory. It is the only open glassblowing workshop in Latvia. Two glassblowers man this workshop, giving visitors the chance to watch the creation of unique glass products from hot glass mass without the use of forms. Piebalga Porcelain Factory on the Cēsis region side is the only porcelain factory in Latvia. It houses not only world renowned dishes, but knowledge on how to handle one of the most fragile materials – porcelain. Baltu rotas makes both exact copies of ancient jewellery and incorporates ancient signs and symbols into modern jewellery design. The Baltu rotas workshop also teaches some of the skills of ancient jewellery making and invites visitors to create their own Namejs ring.
Craft fairs – the place to meet real masters
One of the most interesting and inspiring ways to explore the creations of Latvian artisans and designers is to visit various markets where artisans and artists from all over Latvia demonstrate and sell their masterpieces. Visitors can observe traditional techniques and learn about production processes. Annual and very special events at Riga’s Dome Square include the Old Town Christmas Market and the Līgo! Market in June in honour of the Summer Solstice. The Christmas market is the perfect place to immerse yourself in festive atmosphere and choose special gifts for your loved ones. It’s a place to enjoy local artisan traditions. Kalnciema Quarter Market is more than just a market – it’s a tradition. The Farmers and Craftsmen Market in Āgenskalns takes place every Saturday and brings together a variety of traders, from home-grown producers and farmers to designers. Kalnciema Street celebrates both traditional Latvian solstice celebrations and new holidays: almost every Saturday, the market is dedicated to a special theme and features a diverse range of goods. At the Riga Design Market, you can meet designers and brands from all over the Baltics. Depending on the season, these markets can also be themed, for example, offering gifts in the winter or the brightest festival outfits in the summer. The Riga Design Market has grown and is now expanding beyond the capital.
Design boutiques
Shopping and design boutiques sell various unique artisanal goods. The Latvian design and lifestyle concept store RIIJA offers everything from linen bedding and clothing to beauty products, furniture, interior items and lighting. The M50 store features clothing, jewellery, design objects, ceramics, books, and interesting gifts from more than a hundred Latvian designers and artists. The ETMO gallery sells natural linen and warm wool scarves, clothing and home textiles woven on authentic wooden looms, wool design accessories, glass, porcelain and clay. In the National Costume Centre Senā klēts visitors can see more than seventy national costumes from different regions of Latvia. It is also possible to purchase jewellery, blankets, shawls, scarves, knitwear, linen products, ceramics, wooden spoons, decorations and many other ethnographic heritage items. The concept store Svinam is a special place in the heart of the VEF quarter, created by decorator Baiba Prindule-Rence. The store offers a variety of carefully selected design products, and a visit to the concept store itself is a real adventure and visual pleasure for every aesthete. Folk clothing can be purchased at the Rakstā salon, but custom folk costumes created by the most talented masters of this craft can be ordered from the movement Katram savu tautastērpu. Folk jewellery and accessories are available at the Mūsmāja and Rotu upe stores. Wonderful ethnographic dishes are sold at “Raunas ceplis”, which also offers excursions and creative workshops.
The Latvian Song and Dance Festival – an ethnographic treat
The Latvian Song and Dance Festival is a traditional event that takes place in Riga once every five years, usually attended by more than 30,000 participants. During the festival, the entire city becomes an ethnographic centre. For a whole week, concerts, dance performances and the central event – a festive procession – take place in the capital, with performers adorned in ethnographic costumes. Alongside the main event of the festival – polyphonic singing and collective dancing – the festival content has expanded to include other folk art genres such as instrumental music, brass band, amateur theatre, applied art, folk costume parades and others. In addition to seeing and learning about traditional folk costumes from historical regions of Latvia, visitors can also visit craft fairs, craft workshops and exhibitions, which are an integral part of this event.
