The Competition “Sacral Heritage of Latvia” Is Over

Rietumu Bank Charity Fund has assessed the results of the competition “Sacral Heritage of Latvia”, which took place this spring and summer.

As a result of the competition, funding has been allocated for renovation and restoration projects of several churches of various religious confessions in Riga, Liepaja, Kuldiga and Ismeri.

The competition “Sacral Heritage of Latvia” has been held by Rietumu Charity Fund for the ninth year in a row. Its goal is to restore and preserve significant monuments of sacral culture and art for future generations.

All churches and religious communities of Latvia can participate in the competition every year. The submitted applications are evaluated by the commission, which includes specialists from the Department of National Cultural Heritage and representatives of Rietumu Charity Fund.

This year, following the results of the competition, it was decided to allocate funding for:

• reconstruction of the tower and installation of a volumetric lighting system for the facade of St Jacobs Cathedral in the Old Town
• restoration of the load-bearing structures of the roof of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Liepaja
• reconstruction of the entrance doors of St Anna Lutheran Church in Kuldiga
• reconstruction of the dome and supporting structures of the Old Believer prayer house in Ismeri (Rezekne Region).

Over the years, Rietumu Charity Fund has financed restoration works for more than 50 religious sites throughout the country, among which there are churches of all major confessions in Latvia.

The funds allocated by the Fund have been used for the restoration of stained glass windows, wall paintings, wood carvings, lamps, interior elements, organs, furniture, church utensils, as well as for the required repair of building structures, domes, bell towers, etc.

This year, the total volume of financing of the competition is around EUR 40 000.