Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art

The Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art (RIBOCA) is an international biennial with a European focus and a strong regional profile, founded in 2016. Taking the rich history of Riga and the Baltic states as its underlying framework, the Biennial highlights the artistic landscape of the wider region and creates opportunities for artists to enter into dialogue with the cultural, historical and socio-political context of the city and its geographic surroundings. RIBOCA sees itself as a critical site of artistic experimentation and knowledge production, an activator of co-operation and exchange between local and regional actors and institutions, an instigator of generosity towards peers, and a barometer of current social, political and economic issues filtered through artistic practices.

The 1st Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art (RIBOCA1), with the title Everything Was Forever, Until It Was No More, curated by Katerina Gregos, featured 104 artists and took place in seven venues around the city of Riga and one venue in Jūrmala from June 2 to October 28, 2018. The second edition and suddenly it all blossoms, curated by Rebecca Lamarche-Vadel, featured 65 artists, including 9 collectives, and took place in the industrial port of Andrejsala, Riga. Due to falling in the complex year of 2020, the exhibition was also reimagined as a film.