Cultural Change of Power: How New Leaders Are Emerging in Latvia 0 10

An Anonymous Tip to the Ministry of Culture

Who will become the new director of the state company Latvijas Koncerti? This question has troubled the public for more than six months, considering that the company organizes all major concerts in Latvia, funded by the state budget, and in 2023, the company's turnover was 1.28 million euros, with a profit of 67,060 euros. In 2024, with the same turnover, the profit shrank to a symbolic 1,540 euros.

Nevertheless, the position of head of such an organization is quite a tempting piece, and this piece has been managed by Guntars Kirsis for a full 20 years. All important state concerts with live broadcasts, tours - this was his domain. Given that Mr. Kirsis had long been able to virtuously combine the position of head of Latvijas Koncerti with the responsibilities of director of the famous Dzintari concert hall in Jūrmala - our guy was everywhere.

Two decades in such a position can cause envy, and on October 30 of last year, the Ministry of Culture received an anonymous letter submitted on behalf of current and former employees of Latvijas Koncerti, indicating possible violations in the conduct of state procurement in the organization and "fraudulent actions." The progressive Ministry of Culture forwarded the letter to the competent authorities - 1) the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau and 2) the State Procurement Monitoring Bureau.

Timur and His Team

Guntars gave up, left the position, and the employer, the Ministry of Culture, accepted his resignation. As the extraordinary leader of a neighboring country once said - "a civilized divorce."

An acting head was appointed, and in February it suddenly turned out after inspections that - you won't believe it! - the competent authorities found no violations in Kirsis's actions! But the position at Dzintari was already occupied by some lady from Jūrmala, and the competition for the vacant position in the concert company (4,608 euros per month after taxes) had already been announced.

Twelve candidates jumped into the fray, their names, for some reason, not publicized according to our old tradition. Recently, the press was invited to the headquarters of Latvijas Koncerti (a reconstructed chamber hall in the "Spikeri" quarter near the central market), where the Minister of Culture Agnese Lace, the state secretary of the Ministry of Culture Dace Vilson, and a tall guy, whom everyone immediately recognized (the town is small) Timur Tomsons were already sitting at the presidium.

The minister said that now Timur will gather a new team.

A Supporter of All Things Scandinavian

Meanwhile, the state secretary, who is also the chair of the competition commission Dace Vilson praised the new concert chief: "Timur's previous experience - both in leading the chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga and in managing the Liepāja concert hall - creates a solid foundation for quality leadership of Latvijas Koncerti. During the selection process, Timur confirmed his ability to implement large, complex projects. A particular advantage of Timur is his commitment to building international partnership projects. A striking example of international partnership was the European concert in Liepāja in 2022 in collaboration with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as long-term cooperation with the IRCAM center in Paris."

In general, Timur is a good guy. Moreover, he is not old - only forty years old. Until the end of May, he will continue to head the luxuriously rebuilt Liepāja concert hall Lielais dzintars, and he will preside over the council of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music.

He said that nine years ago he worked with Kirsis, but unlike his predecessor, he is a convinced supporter of the Scandinavian, democratic style of leadership. From now on, the organization led by Timur is a "strategically significant institution in the system of Latvian culture, based on three outstanding and internationally recognized musical ensembles."

A New Broom Sweeps Clean

"As I begin my work, I prioritize the development of human resources, management systems, and the organization's finances, while simultaneously strengthening the artistic and strategic potential of the State Chamber Orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga, the Latvian Radio Choir, and the Latvian Radio Big Band, as well as purposefully developing international cooperation and export. I look forward to the opening of the Great Guild and, in the long term, the Riga Philharmonic."

The first task that Timur Tomsons will have to tackle is to balance the expenses and income of the Latvijas Koncerti budget. Wasn't that the intrigue from the beginning? After Tomsons's appointment, the cultural community of the country immediately gathered around him and began to actively befriend him, forgetting about the long-suffering Kirsis.

Half a Century in Office

A somewhat different situation has developed around the position of director of the Latvian National Museum of Art. For a whole quarter of a century, the museum was headed by Mara Lace, and before that, she worked in the museum for another quarter of a century, having gone through her entire career, starting as a simple art historian. Perhaps a unique case of such longevity in office!

A Visit to the President

Lace said that yes, she is retiring, after which she was immediately invited by the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, thanked for everything, and... appointed as a member of the council of the Latvian Academy of Arts, which is next to the museum.

And for the vacant position (salary 4,373 euros before taxes, but a lot of business trips to different countries!) thirteen candidates rushed in as part of the competition, their names, again, hidden from the public.

The day of announcing the name of the new director arrived, the spacious hall of the museum gathered the public, the Minister of Culture (the Ministry is across the street!) and the same state secretary had already arrived, and no one could recognize the new director - until a modest lady in her fifties in blue sat down at the presidium.

Who Is She?

The minister solemnly announced that the most suitable candidate for the position of director was the current deputy director of the museum for collection work, chair of the Council of Museums of Latvia Iveta Derkusova. Good positions, but even the broad cultural masses did not know her by face!

Iveta Derkusova. Photo: Oskars Upenieks.

"According to the assessment of the competition commission, the winner of the competition Iveta Derkusova fully meets all the managerial competencies required of the director of a large museum. Among her strengths are planning, organizing, and managing processes, the ability to delegate tasks, and focus on achieving results," noted the chair of the commission, state secretary Dace Vilson.

Identity in Conditions of Uncertainty

In her inaugural speech, the new director stated: "The Latvian National Museum of Art, as a vital institution of memory, ensuring the preservation and maintenance of our national identity, requires continuity of work, especially in the current geopolitical and economic uncertainty. My main priorities will be:

• ensuring stable, sustainable, and balanced management of the museum while simultaneously emphasizing team cohesion and motivation to achieve strategic goals;

• developing a competitive exhibition and service offering at the regional level,

• as well as strengthening the museum's reputation as a professional, open, and accessible leader in the industry.

In 2028 - after reconstruction - the Art Museum "Arsenāls" is planned to be opened to visitors as a leading center in Latvia for the study and presentation of art from the second half of the 20th century and the 21st century, as well as as a living cultural space for modern interdisciplinary projects."

...She said - and immediately disappeared. As a result, the cultural community, wishing to closely befriend the new chief, surrounded the Minister of Culture, with whom it wouldn't hurt to be friends as well. It is worth noting that at the ceremonial "inaugurations" no drinks or canapés were served, which greatly disappointed a number of "art lovers" who had slipped in.