Permanent exhibition “Procrastination and Creation” is open

On 26 August, the Latvian National Museum of Literature and Music celebrated the festive opening of its new permanent exhibition “Procrastination and Creation” at Mārstaļu Street 6 in Old Town Riga. Visitors will be able to explore the exhibition starting from September 3rd 2025.

The exhibition “Procrastination and Creation” offers a cultural and social perspective on two of the most beautiful languages of Latvian national culture – literature and music – covering the period from the late 19th century to the present day. By deliberately blurring the traditional boundaries of what a museum and its experience can be, the exhibition reveals the human side of writers and musicians — their hobbies, habits, and paths of procrastination, which often become part of the creative process itself. The nine thematic sections feature 98 personalities, serving as messengers through whose experiences the vastness of Latvian creativity unfolds.

“It brings to mind the iceberg metaphor so often used in museum circles. This is the long, very long-awaited moment when the century-old shoulders of our collections and research have raised above the ocean depths a living and powerful facet, without which a museum as an institution is hard to imagine. On the long and challenging road to creating this permanent exhibition, our guiding sign was the wisdom of the museum’s founder Jānis Greste: “If a door is closed in front of you, it does not mean you cannot get inside. If you are told “you can’t”, that still leaves you a fifty percent chance that you can. And if a fence is put in your way, know that it was placed there so that you would climb over it.” Today we celebrate a great and hard-won “can” together!” – shared Iveta Ruskule, Director of the Latvian National Museum of Literature and Music, during the opening ceremony.

The opening of this exhibition marks the central event of the museum’s centenary celebrations. Come and enjoy an unforgettable experience of presence – a journey through all stages of Latvian creativity: inspiration, procrastination, realization, doubt, and recognition.

Exhibition opening hours

Monday: closed
Tuesday: closed
Wednesday: 12:00–20:00
Thursday: 12:00–19:00
Friday: 12:00–19:00
Saturday: 11:00–17:00
Sunday: 11:00–17:00

Visiting “Procrastination and Creation”

Tickets for the exhibition “Procrastination and Creation” will be available for purchase both on-site and online at biletes.rmm.lv, where visitors can choose their preferred visiting time.

Exhibition leadership, creative, and research team

Director: Iveta Ruskule
Art Director: Anna Heinrihsone
Concept Author: Una Rozenbauma
Composer: Jēkabs Nīmanis
Essay Author of the Poetic Guide: Nora Ikstena
Musical Narrative Author: Sigvards Kļava
Project Management: Elīna Drulle, Dana Karuzina, Kārlis Zeiberts, Undīne Kalniņa
Researchers: Zanda Šumska, Ingus Barovskis, Inese Žune, Inguna Daukste-Silasproģe, Dārta Elza Andersone, Ilona Miezīte, Ieva Ezeriete, Andrievs Alksnis, Maruta Rubeze, Daiga Bondare, Anita Straume, Ieva Āva, Dzintars Gilba, Baiba Jaunslaviete, Marians Rižijs, Kristiāna Kuzmina, Ruta Kurpniece, Ilze Sprancmane, Ligita Ašme
Graphic Design: Edgars Zvirgzdiņš, Dans Jirgensons, Ilze Cihovska
Graphics and Animation: Egils Mednis
Video Artists: Artis Dzērve, Kaspars Balamovskis
Technical Support: Jānis Ķīkulis, Rihards Gulbis

Exhibition construction and technical solutions

SIA Solavi, SIA YesWeCan, interior design by SIA Outofbox.

The exhibition was realized with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and State Real Estate (VAS “Valsts nekustamie īpašumi”).