Dear museum employees,
Dear ladies and gentlemen,
We have gathered here today to witness a major event, the inauguration of the Central Museum Repository.
It is Latvia’s first modern, custom built multi-building storage that will house national heritage treasures.
In a way, it marks the beginning of new era for museums and the whole Latvian culture. I hope that the Repository will become the gold standard of museum collection and asset storage facilities. This is a unique building on the Baltic level.
The new Repository is an example of what a progressive and consistent culture policy can achieve. I would like to specifically underline that we went through several governments during the construction of the Repository and managed to ensure consistent culture policy throughout this phase. All governments consistently continued the work on implementation of Repository which we are opening here today.
It is the only repository of its kind in the world where so many Latvian historic and cultural artefacts can be found. These artefacts remind us of the history of our nation and its culture throughout various periods. It creates a bond between generations, bringing different generations of our nation together.
Alongside our language, collective memory and culture are the building blocks of Latvian state and national identity. We learn who we are through history and culture which shape our awareness as individuals, nation and state. That is why we need a well-balanced culture policy which respects heritage and promotes vibrant and widely appreciated contemporary culture at the same time.
Researchers and enthusiasts have always had access to museum collections. However, I believe the new Repository will reinvigorate interest in studying, interpreting and explaining history and culture. Such knowledge is vitally important, and it still is a vast field of work. We can never know the complete history and I am certain that this Repository will encourage new efforts at analysing Latvia’s culture and heritage. It is important to ensure that heritage is represented in contemporary processes and collective repository of four museums will foster such visibility.
Dear museum employees,
I am excited just as much as you are about this new and modern working environment. For some of you it will be the main place of work. A place where you store and make heritage available to anyone whose interested with all your passion and expertise. I hope the new environment will only strengthen your commitment to your job.
Dear museum employees,
Good luck with your work here and elsewhere across Latvia.
Thank you!
