On 4 June, President of Latvia Egils Levits unveiled a sculpture marking 30 years since opening of Bolderāja Music and Art School. The sculpture named Art and Music, designed by Pauls Jaunzems, will in school’s garden.
President’s remarks at the unveiling:
‘This has been an unusual year for children, teachers and parents. What we have learnt this year is that it is possible to study remotely, and we have the online tools for that, but the biggest lesson we learnt last year is that we do not want to make our education remote by default. We are all looking forward to schools reopening on 1 September and everyone returning to their classrooms for the next school year. So, I wish everyone a nice summer and a strong start of the new school year in autumn!
We have gathered today at the Bolderāja Music and Art School. It sits in a military heritage building erected during the reign of Tzarist Russia. Nowadays, and for the past three decades, we know it as the place where art, music and youth resides: a location charged with a different spirit in stark contrast with its military legacy. A place where youth can hone their creative skills bringing them beyond everyday rational flow of life. Music and art is what makes our life more colourful and exciting. Not that life would end without art or music – it would just be little less colourful. That is why it is so important for educators and the headmaster to respect this craving for artistic dimension that these children have in their life. As for the students, they must feel it, too, to be motivated to continue perfecting their personal characteristics and contribute to art and music.
Thank you for everything you have done for this place! The significance of Bolderāja Music and Art School is further enhanced by the stark contrast between the history and present use of this establishment.
I want to personally thank sculptor Pauls Jaunzems for creating the statue and dedicating it to this school in recognition of the immense role that Bolderāja Music and Art School plays and how it affects the life of each student, the music and the art. That is why it has been named ‘Music and Art’.’