ABOUT US

“Culture and Arts Project NOASS” is one of the oldest non-governmental arts and culture organizations in Latvia. NOASS’ goal is to participate in the formation of the Latvian and European cultural environment.

In the main, NOASS supports the realization of contemporary arts projects in an urban environment, making art part of the daily lives of residents of Riga and visitors to the city. Furthermore, for several years now association have participated in the planning and programming of the contemporary arts forum, “White Night”, the annual “Riga City Festival” and the “International Museums Night”, as well as realizing a range of individual projects.

NOASS main activities:

• Floating Art Gallery NOASS and BETANOVUSS
• “Waterpieces” International Contemporary and Video Art Festival
• Noass Video Art Archive and Video Art Database
• Naive art museum of Latvia
• Artists in residence
• International Cooperation
• The Association of Non-Governmental Contemporary Culture Organizations

Floating Art Gallery

With support from the construction company, “RE&RE” in 2008 NOASS has continued to establish a non-commercial contemporary culture centre whose main activity is based at two river boat platforms, “BETANOVUSS” and “NOASS”. “BETANOVUSS” is a 197 m2 large floating stage with a 57 m2 amphitheatre where residents of Riga can see “small form” theatre exhibitions and contemporary dance performances and where various art genres freely interact. more about premises >>

“Waterpieces” International Contemporary and Video Art Festival

The “Waterpieces” festival dates back to 2001. It’s an annual festival of contemporary and video art which consists of a competition for video works, as well as screenings of international programs thus providing a comprehensive insight into the latest works of contemporary art linked to the moving image. more about festival >

Noass Video Art Archive and Video Art Database

The Latvian Video Art Archive has been created as the only national video art database. It is available for free and covers the entire history of Latvian video art from the late 1980′s through to the present day. The platform for the Latvian Video Art Archive – Database is the videoteque which has been established and built up over a number of years by “Culture and Arts Project NOASS”. more about archive >>

Naive art museum of Latvia

The Naive Art Museum of  Latvia opened at Andrejsala in the autumn of 2006,  from 2013 museum location is on AB Dambis, floating art gallerie BETANOVUSS.

The Naive Art Museum of Latvia has defined its operating goal as being the collection of works of naïve art, as well as their preservation, study and promotion. The Museum’s task is to preserve the cultural and historical heritage of naïve art for future generations and to use it to educate the general public. The Museum devotes particular attention to the identification and preservation of works by contemporary Latvian naïve artists including painters and sculptors and the establishment of core exposition of works at the Museum.  more about museum >>

Artists in residence

Since 2009 the association “Culture and Art Project NOASS” started artists in residence program. The resident house is located on NOASS second floor and studio type apartment on Zaubes street. The main objective is to enable artists to get acquainted with Riga as one of the most beautiful cities in the Baltic States, it’s diverse cultural life, giving new impulses to new creation in the field of visual art, art criticism, writers. more about residence >>

International Cooperation

“Culture and Arts Project NOASS” has primarily focussed on supporting contemporary culture environment and experimental projects in Latvia, but since 2009, it has defined its goal as the integration of Latvian culture into the overall European cultural events cycle.

Since 2007, “Culture and Arts Project NOASS” has operated within the TEH- Trans Europe Halles – European Network of Independent Culture Centres. TEH supports a range of creative initiatives in the European Union and has a membership comprised of 49 culture and arts organizations from 25 countries. more about TEH and projects >>

The second largest European network where NOASS actively participates is European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC).

Since 2008, “Culture and Arts Project NOASS” has functioned as a EVS – European Volunteer Services sending and hosting organization, thus promoting the mobility of young people who are interested in cultural and arts events among various public organizations. Also, NOASS is registered in PADOR database which is managed by EuropeAid.  PADOR or “Potential Applicants Data Online Registration” is a recent applicant processing system introduced by European Commissions through EuropeAid to understand and maintain extensive information about NGOs requesting funds from it for collaboration projects with worldwide organizations.

In addition to the mobility and residency programmes and the opportunities for European volunteer work and its participation in TEH, “Culture and Arts Project NOASS” is continuing the partnerships it has begun with other foreign organizations, representing the Latvian Video Art Archive and selections of the very best works from the well-established contemporary arts and video festival, “Waterpieces”, as well as the Latvian contemporary art scene at international level.