On Wednesday, 6 May 2026, the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (JVLMA), the Art Academy of Latvia (LMA), and the Latvian Academy of Culture (LKA) gathered cultural and creative professionals to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Joint Doctoral Study Programme in Arts. During the event, doctoral students, graduates, academic staff, and other prominent voices in the creative industries looked back on five years of achievement.
The event started with a conference held at 11:00 in the Organ Hall of the JVLMA. It featured speeches by the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Aleksandrs Kalējs; by the rectors of the academies, Prof. Kristaps Zariņš (LMA), Prof. Dāvis Sīmanis (LKA), and Prof. Ilona Meija (JVLMA); by the Director of the Professional Doctoral Studies programme, JVLMA Vice-Rector, Assoc. Prof. Diāna Zandberga; by the Prof. of Music Theory at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, PhD Margus Pärtlas; by the Vice-Rector for Art and Research at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Assoc. Prof. at the Department of History and Theory of Art, Ramunė Balevičiūtė; by the Head of the Professional Doctoral Studies sub-programme “Visual Arts and Design”, Prof. Andris Teikmanis, and by the Head of the Doctoral School and of the Professional Doctoral Studies sub-programme “Audiovisual Arts, Theatre and Contemporary Dance” at the LKA, Prof. Rūta Muktupāvela.
During the second conference session, speeches by the Prof., PhD Jacek Kolasinsky of the LMA and of the Florida International University; by the Director of the Kuopio Music Centre, DMUs Anu Lampela; by the Asoc Prof., DMA Krists Auznieks of the JVLMA; by the Prof., PhD Jānis Taurens of the LMA; by the Prof., PhD Anda Beitāne of the JVLMA; by the Project Manager at the LMA, Art.D. Vineta Kreigere, and, finally, by the Head of the Fashion Department of the LMA, Asoc. Prof. Agnese Narņicka, were also heard.
A discussion followed with the graduates of the programme. The opinion of the alumni was unanimous: the doctoral studies have contributed meaningfully to their professional and academic careers, opening brand new opportunities in the creative industries and academia. The alumni observed that the doctoral studies have helped them communicate better, formulate their thoughts more convincingly, and thrive in their creative work. The link to the video of the conference is here.
The key takeaways of the conference were that the Joint Doctoral Study Programme in Arts is a unique model, unparalleled within the European Education Area and globally; that culture yields a specific, measurable impact on the national economy; and that artistic research and creation are intrinsically linked, since artists themselves are uniquely qualified to evaluate art.
The conference also highlighted the research of the doctoral students and graduates, which covers topics ranging from the use of sensor technologies and the development of financial literacy among creative professionals to the specificities of conductors’ work and modern dance in Latvia.
Following the conference, the Grand Hall of the JVLMA welcomed the guests to the celebratory concert “The Lure of Light” [“Gaismas vilinājums”], which sought to illuminate the vital importance of Light – Faith, Hope, and Love – in the lives of people, and highlighted the results of the artistic research and creation of the academic staff, doctoral students, doctoral candidates and alumni. The link to the video of the concert is here.
The Joint Professional Doctoral Study Programme in Arts, established in 2021, has already seen 25 professional Doctors in Arts (Artium Doctor or Art. D.) defend their doctoral theses. Out of these, 16 are graduates of the LMA, seven are graduates of the JVLMA, and two are graduates of the LKA. The Joint Doctoral Study Programme in Arts is proud to count many distinguished professionals in the arts among its doctoral students and alumni, like the conductor Kaspars Ādamsons; the choreographers Jānis Purviņš and Ramona Galkina; the painters Ansis Rozentāls, Laura Veļa, and Sandra Strēle; the designer Martins Vizbulis, the fashion designers Una Pūpola, Laima Jurča, and Agnese Narņicka; the director and playwright Ivo Briedis, the metal artist Nils Jumītis, and the sculptor Egons Peršēvics. Currently, 53 Latvian and foreign doctoral students are attending the Doctoral School in the disciplines of Art, Design, Cinema, Theatre, Modern Dance, and Choreography.
Contact person:
The Director of the Professional Doctoral Studies programme, PhD Diāna Zandberga
(diana.zandberga(abols)jvlma.lv, profesionala.doktorantura(abols)jvlma.lv)
Photos: Aija Vanaga
