This year, the professional art prize “Linstow Art Award 2026” has received 36 applications from graduates of the Art Academy of Latvia (LMA) Master’s programmes, confirming consistently high interest in the initiative for the second consecutive year. The Linstow Art Award provides structured and sustainable support for emerging artists by combining a €3,000 monetary award with practical support, including the opportunity to use an art studio space at the SPORTA 2 quarter for a full year. In this way, the award creates a strong platform for the development of the creative industries while strengthening the competitiveness and visibility of emerging talents in both the Latvian and international cultural environment.

The mission of the “Linstow Art Award” is to give long-term support to young Latvian artists, ensuring a stronger art community and a lasting presence of art in the city.

“The “Linstow Art Award” has established itself as a sustainable and purpose-driven initiative that provides not only greater visibility, but also real opportunities for creative development, including the possibility to use an art studio space for an entire year. The strong interest for the second consecutive year confirms that practical and professional support is especially important for emerging artists at the beginning of their professional careers. Our goal is to create a stable platform for the professional growth of young talents and to strengthen the development of the creative industries in the long term. We believe that the “Linstow Art Award” will continue to play an important role in supporting emerging artists in the development of their talent and professional careers. We wish all applicants creative energy, confidence, and success,” emphasizes Evija Majevska, Commercial Director of Linstow Baltic.

All submitted works will be evaluated by an international jury composed of high-level experts from Latvia and abroad with professional experience in contemporary art, design, architecture, and cultural policy. The online evaluation process is currently underway, while the in-person jury evaluation in Riga is scheduled for June 4. The winners will be announced on June 19.

Submitted works will be evaluated by an international jury composed of Latvian and international experts in contemporary art, architecture, cultural policy, and design. The three laureates will be selected based on criteria including the artist’s previous work and future potential, the formal and conceptual aspects of the submitted work, technical execution, and the relevance of its message.

The Linstow Art Award 2026 jury includes:

• Paulina Rider Wilhelmsen – founder of the “Linstow Art Award” and “Lise Wilhelmsen Art Award”; philanthropist, art patron, collector, and producer,
• Inga Lāce – “Linstow Art Award” Jury leader; Chief Curator at “Almaty Museum of Arts” in Kazakhstan, and C-MAP Central and Eastern Europe Fellow at “MoMA”, New York,
• Joanna Nordin – Artistic Director and curator at “Bonniers Konsthall”, Sweden,
• Susanne Østby Sæter – Curator of photography and new media at “Henie Onstad Art Centre”, Norway,
• Vita Liberte – Latvian lawyer, art collector, patron, entrepreneur, and founder of “VV Foundation”,
• Dina Suhanova – architect, project manager, and researcher at the “Institute of Contemporary Art”, Design and Architecture, Art Academy of Latvia.

The professional art prize “Linstow Art Award” was established in 2025 through a collaboration between “Linstow Baltic” and the Art Academy of Latvia, with the aim of providing a contemporary platform for emerging Latvian artists to launch their professional careers and develop their talent. The award forms part of “Linstow Baltic’s” sustainable development approach, integrating art and business to support talent growth and the development of a vibrant creative urban environment.

More information: www.linstowartaward.lv, please follow for the Linstow Art Award 2026 updates on Facebook and  Instagram.