On 30 August, GALVA-fest turned Liepāja into a whole-day space for underground music, youth creativity and freedom of self-expression. Nine bands took the stage. In the hall, the mood was warm and open, without a trace of aggression. There were young people and their parents, plenty of conversation, jokes and real emotion.
It was not about commercialism. Rather, it was about the freedom to be yourself, and about collaboration that runs against the mainstream. That is exactly why it felt so close to us as a school. In playback theatre and psychodrama, we do the same thing every day: we create a space without judgement. As a result, a person can be real rather than play a role. The musicians were exactly that. No pose, no pretence — they were not performing an image, but simply being who they are.
The school behind the day
Our school and our sponsors made this day possible. Together, we covered the venue hire — Kultūras nams «Wiktorija» — and the organisational costs. That way, young people had a place where someone would truly listen to them. People often complain that the young lack initiative. But where should that initiative come from? How can they grow into their role and responsibility if no one ever gives them the chance to show it?
Apmale-93: on stage and on the walls
The festival had a visual side, too. The walls carried their own story: a youth painting exhibition by the creative movement Apmale-93. It brings together young Latvian artists — students from LMMDV, the Art Academy of Latvia and the University of Latvia. In fact, the movement has a name for bold, daring work. In the darkened hall hung expressive portraits and figurative pieces — faces, characters, inner states. Behind each one, you sense the living, searching gaze of its young author. And these were the very same people who performed on stage — artists and musicians in one. In spirit, it was just like the music: not to embellish, but to show things as they are.
There was a good deal of noise and unfounded accusations around the festival. Still, we will not dwell on them. Instead, we saw creativity, authenticity and respect with our own eyes — for participants and audience alike. The day passed calmly and with dignity.
Our particular thanks go to the creative movement Apmale-93 for this programme. One real discovery for us was the Riga band Musaro. Their set was light, liberating creative chaos on stage — yet without the slightest sense of threat or tension.
In the end, little by little, we really are changing something. Step by step, together, we create places where young people can speak in their own voice.