The Danish Cultural Institute in the Baltics celebrates it’s 35th anniversary

On 18 August, the Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will mark its 35th anniversary with a festive event at the jazz club M-Darbnica.

It is a great pleasure that the Institute’s first regional directors: Rikke Helms in Riga, Silvi Teesalu in Tallinn, and Audra Sabaliauskiene in Vilnius will all be present at the event and share their personal stories from the institute’s beginnings in 1990.

“In 1990, the Singing Revolution was still echoing in the streets of Riga. National flags, once forbidden, were flying again, and people’s eyes shone with pride, uncertainty, and tears of emotion. In the midst of this, Denmark arrived with a mission: to build bridges through culture at a time when political independence had not yet been fully secured,” remembers Rikke Helms, the first Regional Director of the Danish Cultural Institute in Riga.

Building a strong connection between the Baltic States and Denmark was both necessary and beneficial – not only to support the re-born democracies, but also to build long-term relations between our nations.

Since the opening of the Institute, it has been involved in myriads of cultural encounters and projects – from choral singing to the creative industries. The institute looks back with deep appreciation of the warm spirit of collaboration and goodwill that so many have shown towards the institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

“Collaboration builds trust – and trust is essential for creating resilient and democratic societies. More than ever, we need the strong power of culture to give us community, hope, and strength. The Institute looks forward to continuing our work in the region together with all our wonderful partners,” highlights the regional director of the Danish Cultural Institute in the Baltics and the Baltic Sea Region Anna Enemark.

During the event at M-Darbnīca the outstanding Latvian musicians – multi-instrumentalist, composer and singer Rūdolfs Macats and saxophonist Kārlis Auziņš (Winner of the “Latvian Grand Music Award 2025”) will give guests a mini-concert. At the end of the evening, guests will join in a song together – an activity close to the hearts of Danes, Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians

Cartoon by Poul Holck, newpaper Politiken, 18.08.1990