Several hundred people marched from the square outside the Latvian National Opera and Ballet on Tuesday, chanting slogans as part of the “Culture Survives (or Not)” protest to draw attention to wages in the cultural sector, the LETA news agency observed.
Participants carried handmade placards bearing slogans such as “Culture is not a hobby”, “Working for pennies is no art”, “Working in a museum = the art of surviving”, “The magic bear will [not] come”, “Those who get paid will survive”, “Wisdom has limits, stupidity does not”, “Culture is work” and “We want to work in Latvia. Do you want us?”
The protest was monitored by the State Police.
The march began at the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, continued past the Freedom Monument and ended at the Latvian National Museum of Art.
The organisers of the “Culture Survives (or Not)” protest emphasised that, in the second quarter of 2026, the average gross monthly salary in cultural heritage institutions was 1,395 euros, while employees in the performing arts sector earned an average of 1,365 euros.
By comparison, the average gross salary across the public sector was 1,926 euros.
“Persistently low wages are driving experienced professionals out of the sector and out of Latvia, while also making it difficult to attract new specialists. This is a problem whose consequences will eventually be felt by society as a whole, affecting the quality, diversity and accessibility of cultural offerings,” the organisers stated.