Festival organizers announced that the upcoming edition aims to combat information overload and productivity pressure by offering accessible events across multiple non-traditional venues, including the Veldze creative factory quarter, the Latvian National Museum of Art, and public riverbanks.
Slowing Down the Cultural Tempo
According to festival curator Santa Remere, the program deliberately shifts away from high-intensity anniversary formats to offer a more sustainable, unhurried experience. Remere noted that cultural seasons often become oversaturated for both creators and audiences, prompting this year’s intentional focus on intimacy, care, and repeated performances in close geographic proximity.
Documentary Storytelling Along the Daugava River
Created in collaboration with local teams including Diāna Kondrašu, Rvins Varde, and Ūna Laukmane, the performance examines whose histories become embedded in local landscapes. Dramaturge Diāna Kondrašu stated that the work traces a path from glacial movements to contemporary borderland realities, moving upstream against the current. Artist Ūna Laukmane added that the team engaged in intense discussions regarding the distinct characteristics of Daugava segments located in Russia and Belarus, aiming to reflect those regional differences through stark visual coloring.
Inclusive Artworks and Sensory Experiences
According to festival producers, several works specifically target accessibility and vulnerability. Choreographer Laima Jaunzema, in partnership with the Latvian Association of the Blind, will host a workshop titled Concert of Unfulfilled Dreams to explore inclusive contemporary dance. Additionally, production intern Agnese Puisāne tested select performances using audio descriptions and tactile experiences to ensure engagement for visitors with visual impairments. Other featured presentations include Belgian artist Sāra Vanhē’s Word Service, which offers individual listening sessions, and French director Žonatans Kapdevjels’s staging of Dainas featuring actor Dimitri Dore exploring personal identity and adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the Homo Novus festival events take place?
According to festival organizers, events will be held along the Daugava River from Kraslava to Riga, the Latvian National Museum of Art, the Veldze creative factory quarter, and various other public and alternative spaces.
Who produces the Homo Novus festival?
What is the central theme of this year’s festival?
According to curator Santa Remere, the festival focuses on slowing down the pace of cultural life, reducing productivity pressure, and fostering human relationships, care, and presence through collaborative and accessible art.
To learn more about the schedule, ticketing, and specific venue locations, visit the official Homo Novus website.
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