FESTIVAL’AND 6.0 – A Summer School for Design, Culture, and Construction in Valmiermuiža
From June 25 to July 5, 2025, the scenic town of Valmiera and its neighboring Valmiermuiža become a creative hub for the international design–build summer school FESTIVAL’AND 6.0. The program brings together students and young professionals from a range of countries to design and construct temporary architectural interventions in the unique setting of Valmiermuiža Park – side by side with the vibrant Ethno-music Festival.
Organized by the Institute of Contemporary Art, Design and Architecture of the Art Academy of Latvia, in cooperation with CAMPOSAZ, the Valmiermuiža Association of Culture, and RISEBA University’s Faculty of Architecture and Design, the summer school focuses on learning through doing – moving beyond academic boundaries into the physical world of materials, tools, and teamwork.
Throughout the 11-day program, participants engage in a full design process: from research, ideation, and model-making to hands-on 1:1 scale construction. This year’s workshops are led by an international team of tutors and supported by lectures, excursions, cultural activities, and site visits, including the Valmiera Theatre and Latvia’s State Forests regional center. Our faculty lecturer, Rudolf Bekic, is also actively involved, delivering lectures and assisting with the construction of the 1:1 scale objects.
Among the participants are two students from RISEBA FAD – Violeta Kokoreviča and Nikita Merkushin – who have joined peers from around the world to take part in this immersive experience.
FESTIVAL’AND 6.0 celebrates not only the creative process of building but also the power of community, collaboration, and culture. We are proud to see our students contributing to this inspiring initiative and look forward to the outcomes of their collective work in Valmiermuiža!
Photos by our students Nikita Merkushin and Violeta Kokoreviča