Riga Film Museum is the only museum of its kind in Latvia. It holds various exhibitions that display different aspects of cinema art, actors and film history. The museum was founded in 1988, and currently the museum space is located in an 18th-century building located on 10 Peitavas Street in Vecrīga.
The idea to establish the Film Museum in Riga came about during the traditional cinema forum called ”Kino Dienas” (English: “Film Days”) in 1986. The leaders of this project were Augusts Sukuts, Inga Pērkone-Redoviča, and Juris Civjans. They managed to start a museum by getting a permission from the Soviet Union cinema organization.
Throughout the years following Latvia’s independence, the Riga Film Museum has been a part of different institutions. It was a part of the National Film Centre of Latvia until 2010 when it was turned over to the Latvian Academy of Culture, and the museum is still part of the latter.
The Film Museum has relocated various times before settling to the current building in the Old Town. It was once in the rooms of ”Riga Video Centre”, the ”Latvian State Archive of Audiovisual Documents”, the ”Riga Film Studio” and the former ”Museum of Illegal Press” on Krāslavas Street.
The museum is noted for its personal attention to visitors and its cozy premises are a place for meetings, exchange of opinions, making new acquaintances and learning for everyone.
On a regular basis the museum organizes mini exhibitions, lectures, events and movie screenings. It offers guided tours, lessons and creative workshops for both – film connoisseurs and those who only start to learn about film history.
