AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE LATVIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM FOUNDED

American Friends of the Latvian National Museum Inc. (“American Friends”) has been established by New York based Latvian born artist Vija Celmiņš, Daris Dēliņs, Latvia’s Honorary Consul in Vermont, and John Medveckis, Latvia’s Honorary Consul in Pennsylvania to facilitate donations by U.S. taxpayers to foster awareness of and support the work of the Latvian National Museum of Art and similar cultural organizations in Latvia.

Daris Dēliņš, President and CEO of the organization says: “We are delighted that there will now be an easy and tax-efficient way for people and organizations in the United States to donate money that will help develop and foster the work of some of the most important cultural institutions in Latvia.”

The Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMA) is the largest repository of professional art in Latvia, and occupies an important place in the accumulation, preservation, and promotion of cultural values ​​in Latvia and abroad. The aim of the Latvian National Art Museum is to educate the public and stimulate its interest in the visual art of Latvia and the world in its historical and artistic manifestations, emphasizing the place of the national art school in cultural history and contemporary processes. The structure of the Latvian National Art Museum includes the main building of the Latvian National Art Museum, the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE, as well as the Museum of Romans Suta and Aleksandra Belcova.

Dēliņš notes that “the idea for this organization arose a few years back when we were hosting the Minister of Culture of Latvia at a lunch at the Whitney Museum of Art in NYC. Attending was NY-based Latvian born artist Vija Celmiņš and my colleague John Medveckis, Hon. Consul for Latvia in Pennsylvania. In our discussion, the idea came up and then everyone asked why can’t it be done? Everybody looked at me, and I said, of course, let’s do it!”

Now, two years later, and with the generous financial assistance of John Medveckis and Vija Celmins, the legal incorporation work has been completed and the organization is open to accepting donations.

American Friends’ mandate is to support work dedicated to the collection, preservation, and dissemination of artworks and other materials of artistic, historic, academic, and cultural relevance in all mediums at the Latvian National Museum of Art and similar cultural organizations in Latvia.

Māra Lāce, director of the Latvian National Museum of Art notes “We are delighted about the establishment of this organization. Donations to the organization will be of tremendous benefit to the work of the LNMA with respect to facilitating exhibitions, expanding our research, and size of our collection. We are grateful to the people involved in setting this up and their generous donation of time and money in doing so”.

Vija Celmiņš, vice-president of American Friends remarks “I’m so excited to that we can now support institutions like the Latvian National Museum of Art. The artists need the audience. The art could make you think or maybe fly.”

Elita Ansone, head of LNMA department "Arsenāls" remarks "The museum has had a close friendship with the artist Vija Celmiņa for many years, who is constantly interested in what kind of exhibitions and projects we are developing. She has always emphasized the need to provide greater support directly to artists. I hope that the establishment of the organization "American Friends" will provide more opportunities to do this in the museum."

Donations can be made by check or via PayPal or wire transfer. In certain circumstances, it may be possible to donate works of art if, after evaluating their cultural-historical and artistic significance, they are in compliance with the recipient museum’s collection policy.