Roughly 2,000 cultural workers marched through central Riga on Tuesday demanding long-term solutions for low wages that lag far behind the rest of the public sector.
Protest March Through Riga
Demonstrators gathered in the square near the Latvian National Opera and Ballet before walking past the Freedom Monument and the Cabinet of Ministers, ending their route at the Latvian National Museum of Art. Participants sang the national anthem and carried signs bearing slogans such as “Kultūra nav hobijs”, “Working for pennies is no art”, and “He who receives a wage shall endure”.
The action brought out prominent creative figures, including Dita Lūriņa-Egliene, Mārtiņš Egliens, Gundars Āboliņš, Egils Melbārdis, Maija Doveika, and Juris Hiršs, Andrejs Osokins, and Ojārs Rubenis.
Writers and musicians joined museum curators, librarians, and orchestra players to call attention to earnings that force professionals out of the field. Representatives from the Rundāle Palace Museum also participated in the Riga march holding banners that stated culture survives in Rundāle Palace and that employee evaluations sit at 70% of the average.
Earnings Gap in the Public Sector
Data published by the protest organizers show that in the second quarter of 2026, the average gross monthly salary reached 1,926 euros across the public sector as a whole. In cultural heritage institutions, by contrast, the average gross salary stood at 1,395 euros. Workers in the performing arts sector earned an average of 1,365 euros.
Those figures leave heritage workers earning roughly 28% less than the public sector average, while performing arts employees trail by about 29%. Organizers warn that such disparities drive experienced staff out of the profession and deter newcomers from entering it.
Closing the Public Sector Gap Requires 30 Million Euros
According to calculations by Sanda Voldiņa, closing the gap with the rest of the public sector requires 30 million euros over four years, amounting to 7.5 million euros annually. Kulbergs said that preparing a long-term funding plan falls to the incoming culture minister.
Concert at Riga Congress House
The demonstration day concluded with a benefit concert at the Riga Congress House featuring major professional music ensembles. Performers included the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, the Kremerata Baltica chamber ensemble, Sinfonietta Rīga, the Riga Orchestra, the Latvian Radio Big Band, the State Choir Latvija, and musicians from the Latvian National Opera and Ballet.
The program featured works by composers including Imants Kalniņš, Arturs Maskats, Raimonds Pauls, and Emīls Dārziņš. Public broadcaster Latvian Public Broadcasting broadcast the concert live across television and radio channels.
Initiative organizers stress that the November 10 events mark only the beginning of a broader campaign. Activities and discussions are scheduled to continue in museums and theaters across Latvia through November 23, 2026.
