The contemporary art festival Survival Kit, comprised of a curated exhibition and an event programme, was initiated in 2009 as a response to the economic crisis affecting Latvia at the time. Each year, the festival’s appointed curator (or curators) carefully selects the themes explored, inviting artists from around the world to offer alternative scenarios of survival. The festival’s mission to critically investigate and reflect on the evolution of contemporary society has made it a key platform for the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art (LCCA) to showcase its commitment to research, creation, and development of contemporary art processes in Latvia and internationally since 1993.

Survival Kit’s choice of venue is an integral part of the festival’s identity, as it inhabits empty buildings in Riga, exploring their potential and possible development strategies that could be used to revitalize them. Despite the often challenging nature of these spaces, the festival emphasizes the importance of accessibility, assisting people with disabilities.

Here you’ll find information on the themes explored, the participating artists, and the various events that took place, providing insight into how Survival Kit has evolved over the years.

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