We are beyond excited to announce that this year, in Riga, we are hosting RIOT! —— ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤa Queer Performing Arts Festival that dares to ask:
What does the world we want to live in look like? What could our queer future look like? And even more importantly, how can we start living it now?Venue - Radošā rūpnīca Veldze, at the Katla māja (Boiler House) / Matīsa iela 8
Dates - Friday 26th until Sunday 28th September 2025
Radical Imagination of Our Time is more than a festival. It’s a grassroots initiative in collective imagination. Rooted in the legacies of thinkers like Haiven, Khasnabish, Hooks, and Davis, RIOT! is a call to dream together: to resist limiting norms, to celebrate queer joy as a political act, our resistance in a world that is trying to erase us, and to begin creating the worlds we long for through performance, community, and radical creativity!By materializing a queer present beyond constraining norms, the festival and the team behind it, invites us all to think of how more inclusive, colourful, caring and tender futures can be built, and to start making them, one performance at a time.The inspiration behind:
Radical Imagination comes directly from the work of Max Haiven and Alex Khasnabish, especially their book "Radical Imagination: Social Movement Research in the Age of Austerity (2014), where they argue that social movements are not only about protest or opposition but about the imaginative capacity to envision alternatives to dominant systems of power.The radical imagination for them is the shared capacity of people to ask: what kind of world do we want to live in, and how do we start building it together? They write that this imagination is both collective (emerging from communities in struggle) and radical (because it digs down to the roots of social and political structures to imagine otherwise). It is not just about abstractly dreaming, but it’s about practices, performances, and community life that put into practice those possible worlds.RIOT! Festival is rooted in queer resistance, collective imagination and the legacies of movements and thinkers who have always been deeply political, confronting the state violence, oppression and normative constraints.We are here occupying the tenderness, blending various art forms, focusing on performing arts, exploring, practicing, dreaming, imagining, acting, collaborating, learning, unlearning, creating and growing together as a community, and queer activists.
At the festival, queer artists, activists, and audiences from Latvia and across Europe will gather in Riga to share, co-create, experience and transform.Through performances, workshops, panels, conversations, creative and expressive stations and more, we will explore how art is inevitable and how through performing arts, we turn imagination into movement, voice, and presence, shaping the futures and presents we long for!
The festival is self-organized and being co-designed and co-curated by 15 volunteers from all over Europe - Latvia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Germany -
working hand-in-hand with artists, mentors, and local queer communities based in Riga.Together, we’re building not just a programme but a process, one that celebrates free expression, collaboration, imagination, and the power of being together.
Join us in Riga and be part of this act of Radical Imagination! Let’s gather for creativity, for community, and for the futures we dare to dream and act upon now!
The festival is a work in progress.The programme is crafted by our Production team of the project, and it involves 4 performances by the performance team of the festival, workshops hosted by local community members, panel discussions inviting members of the festival and local community to share their experiences and impact, a queer market with local and baltic artists and a performance by the Beyond Movement team.The festival combines a mix of performances that combine different artistic elements, alongside creative activities for the community to gather, express and radically imagine together!Before every performance, the content and trigger warnings will be shared.
▪ Friday 26.09
| Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 18:00 | Open Doors | Welcoming you all to the space |
| 18:30 - 19:00 | Opening of the Festival | Speeches - introduction & gratitude |
| 19:00 - 19:45 | RIOT! Creative Journeys - Celebrating Movement, Community & Co-creation | A video screening capturing the festival's co-creation process, hosted by the media team. Creative team: Raina Kregere, Ethan Álvarez, Ailo Gasimzade, Alexa Bertsche, Anastasija Laizane. |
| 19:45 - 20:00 | Break | |
| 20:00 - 20:45 | Love, Life, Death | Performance by RIOT! team. || What happens after death? How many times do we die and are reborn... and what role does our community play in this cyclical process? In this piece, we are invited to learn the story of a character who struggles to avoid falling into the destructive routines that once exhausted her. Perhaps, to dream of possible futures, it is necessary to say goodbye to the past that imprisons us. Creative Team: Madara Baltina, Lavinia Ferri, Jess Grebeniuk, Raúl Martí, Julia Pírez, Nea Siller, Gabriel Vivas-Martínez. Content warnings: Topics of death and violent/toxic relationships are present and represented in an embodied way. No words are said in the performance. Trigger warnings: Use of changing stage lights. Blackout. |
| 21:00 | Closing of the first day |
▪ Saturday 27.09
| Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 - 13:45 | Crochet Workshop by Carys | Crochet workshop for anyone interested. For those who are beginners, some basic stitches will be taught and for more advanced crocheters a special task will be shared. |
| 13:45 - 14:00 | Break | |
| 14:00 - 15:00 | Queer Voices Live | An Interactive Podcast of Shared Stories, hosted by RIOT! team. Participants have the opportunity to share their stories anonymously and contribute to the shared space of expressing, inspiring and radically imagining together. |
| 15:00 - 15:30 | Break | |
| 15:30-16:15 | Mirrors // srorriM | Performance by RIOT! team. || Still today, queer lives are subjected to violence and hate in many social contexts. We, LGBTIQ+ people, are constrained by societal structures that force us to carry weights and burdens that are neither ours nor our desires. Faced with this reality, can we dream of a more hopeful future? In this immersive piece, we are invited to participate in a perspective shift: From writing on our own reflection to moving with the performers, we try to find ways for mirrors to reflect kinder and more inspiring realities. Creative Team: Madara Baltina, Lavinia Ferri, Jess Grebeniuk, Raúl Martí, Vera Modvala, Nea Siller, Gabriel Vivas-Martínez. Content warnings: Topics of oppression, hate, and violence are present and represented in an embodied way. At times, use of graphic language describing violence and blood. Use of recordings with messages about violence towards trans and non-binary people, suicide rates in the LGBTIQ+ community, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, misogynoir, transmisogynoir, and burnout. Mentioning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Images of constraint with ropes around one character. Symbolic representation of death with ropes. Trigger warnings: Performers invite the audience to face them and move with them in different moments of the performance. Audience members can decide if/how they want to face the performers and move with them. Use of a Mirror to invite audience members to reflect on certain questions pertinent to the performance. Because of the Mirror, there is a potential unexpected reflection of lights. Use of changing stage lights. Blackout. |
| 16:15 - 16:45 | Break | |
| 16:45 - 18:30 | Radical Delights | A creative writing workshop hosted by Katerina Dementeva. Join this creative writing workshop with easy exercises about delightful things and experiences. Everyone is welcome, any skill level is enough, writing could be done in any language, and there will be no obligation to share work. Please bring something for writing: your journal and pen, your laptop, or your phone. |
| 18:30 - 19:00 | Break | |
| 19:00 - 20:00 | Darkroom | Performance by RIOT! team. || The mystical, esoteric, raging, sensual, pleasant, chaotic, and unexpected are combined in this immersive performance, which invites us to embark on a sensorial journey through different dimensions of Queer identities. Guided by magical and mythological figures, we present a soundscape that invites us to experience possible Queer futures at the level of the body, bravely and collectively. Creative Team: Madara Baltina, Lavinia Ferri, Jess Grebeniuk, Raúl Martí, Julia Pírez, Nea Siller, Gabriel Vivas-Martínez. Content warnings: Mention of historical and systemic violence towards LGBTIQ+ people. Trigger warnings: Audiences are invited to wear a blindfold for almost the entirety of the performance. With a consent code in place, performers will approach the audience and touch them on the back and arms. Potential use of feathers on the arms and hands of the audience members. Olfactory (smell) stimuli are used around the room. Possible use of loud noises and running around the room. Use of moaning and pleasure sounds. |
| 20:30 | Closing of second day |
▪ Sunday 28.09
| Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 - 12:30 | Gender reveal | Performance by RIOT! team. This performance is taking place in the public space at the intersection of Kaļķu Street and Vaļņu Street. || Four beings appear in front of the audience. Who are they? Why are they here? And… What happens when they start sitting down and adopting the characteristics of two categories? In this performance, we aim to take to the public space a reflection on gender and how it can affect and constrain Queer lives, labelling us into two specific categories that do not necessarily speak to our identities. In a Queer Future… What could these four beings do to resist the mandates of gender binarism? Creative Team: Lavinia Ferri, Jess Grebeniuk, Julia Pírez, Nea Siller, Gabriel Vivas-Martínez. Trigger warnings: Use of balloons. Brief embodiment of chaos. |
| 13:00 - 16:00 | Queer Market with local artists | Join us at the queer market to support local artists, discover unique creations, celebrate LGBTQ+/Queer culture, and take home art that truly inspires. We are welcoming artists from Latvia and Estonia. A big thank you to Edijs, Carys, Ra, Estere, Sky, Miķelis, Kotika, Puravs, Katrīna, Rain and Liga, who are joining us with their inspiring, radical and healing creations. |
| 14:00 - 14:45 | Uniting in times of division through community work | Panel Discussion with Melissa, Latvian Godmother of Kiki house of Tutti and one of Latvian Ballroom scene representatives and Anastasija Laizane, co-founder of Active Rainbow NGO, Riga Pride organizer and Drag performer. Moderated by Cathy Manousaki, Founder of Active Rainbow platform and co-founder of the NGO, Queer Museum Riga Coordinator, RIOT! Festival co-creator. |
| 14:45 - 15:00 | Break | |
| 15:00 - 16:00 | Queers in Academia | Panel Discussion with queer representatives who are involved in Academia and queer activism. Speakers involve - Gabriel Vivas Martinez (applied theatre facilitator, educator and researcher), Victoria Tkaċenko (activist, youth worker, and lecturer at the University of Latvia, Faculty of Social Sciences), Maria Terzopoulou (graduate of Social Work, University of West Attica - UNIWA, youth worker), Áďa Šedová (educator, activist, and a researcher in the field of natural science). Moderated by Ivi Athanasiou and Alva Eriksson, team members of RIOT! Festival and Humus project. |
| 16:00 - 16:30 | Break | |
| 16:30 - 17:30 | Contemporary drawing workshop | Hosted by Katrina Tračuma. Making faces - 1h long contemporary drawing workshop to build understanding, friendship, and community spirit. See yourself and others through a rainbow of colour. Get creative, and have fun! |
| 17:30 - 17:45 | Break | |
| 17:45 - 18:15 | Beyond Movement | Performance & video screening by the Beyond Movement team, initiators and creators of the European Solidarity Corps project with the same name. About the performance: Beyond our movement hides our roots. Very different experiences with stories of our queerness and how we met and became one. One community that moves together in life and dance. Our stories are very colorful with a glimpse of every shade. Together in movement, together we have found love, care and support for ourselves and others. All of that because of movement that we call dance. This is a story of our togetherness. Together in movement we grow and shine. Not glamorous steps or precise technique. Just togetherness in our journeys. This is a little glimpse of who we are and how we live - through movement, beyond movement and together in movement. Creative team: Kris Zuzule, Dženete Dumpe, Tofu Jonikāne, Līga. |
| 18:15 | Closing of the Festival |
Programme Creative Team: Alva Eriksson, Ivi Athanasiou, Sabīne Baltutīte, Vera Modvala, Gabriela Morantes, Cathy Manousaki
Practical Information▪ ENTRANCE: Donation BasedWe believe art and imagination should be for everyone, not only for those who can afford a ticket. That’s why entrance is donation-based.Your contribution, whatever amount feels right for you, directly supports the co-funding of the project under which the festival is organized, our young artists, organizers, and communities who make this gathering possible.By donating, you’re not just helping to cover costs; you’re contributing a collective vision of art as resistance, as tenderness activism, and as a force for transformation.On your first entry to the festival in whichever day you can join, you will receive a bracelet, with which you can enter the festival at any time.And if you cannot contribute financially, you are still warmly welcome to join us. Your presence, energy, and participation are just as valuable in shaping the spirit of this festival.---▪ CODE OF CONDUCT:This festival is a space for creativity, care, and collective advocacy. To keep it safer and open for everyone, we have a zero-tolerance policy toward:- Hate speech or discriminatory language- Racism, sexism, queerphobia, transphobia, ableism, or any other form of oppression- Harassment, intimidation, or unwanted behavior of any kind- Violence (verbal & physical), threats, or actions that put others at riskWe stand in support of all human rights causes and affirm the dignity, safety, and freedom of every individual. Our gathering is built on respect, solidarity, and mutual care.We ask all participants to engage with respect, empathy, and curiosity.Everyone has the right to express themselves freely, as long as it does not harm or silence others.If you experience or witness behavior that goes against this code, please reach out to one of the organizers immediately. Together, we will ensure this festival remains a safer, braver and welcoming space for all.The organizers reserve the right to deny entry or remove anyone who does not respect this Code of Conduct.
______________
▪ FOOD/DRINKS:
Basic items will be offered.
In terms of food:
For the opening on Friday, there will be finger food snacks.
For Saturday and Sunday there will be different snacks provided.
All food provided will be vegan, including, a few vegetarian options.
In terms of drinks, there will be provided from the festival juices and sparkling non-alcoholic drinks for the opening and the closing.
For tea/coffee etc, we invite guests if they want to buy on their own expenses from the Down Street Record Shop to support the residents in the quartet.
______________▪ LANGUAGE: English and Latvian.Due to the international dimension of the festival, activities are going to be mainly in English with Latvian assistance available when needed from our Latvian team members.
______________▪ DOCUMENTATION:
This is a public event. It will be photographed and video graphed for visibility and promotional purposes.At the entrance, there will be a consent form for guests to fill in.
▪ ACCESSIBILITY:
Our venue is wheelchair accessible, with step-free entry and accessible restrooms to the maximum as the lights in that room are automated.We are also mindful of sensory accessibility: lighting and sound levels are considered with care to create an environment that is welcoming and comfortable for a wide range of needs.However, please note that some performances may include strong lights, amplified sound, or other sensory elements that might not be fully accessible to all. For those performances, we are using warnings, including content and trigger warnings when its needed.If you have specific access needs, feel free to contact us in advance so we can do our best to support you.▪ IMPORTANT:
As the venue itself is still in progress of certain renovations, and the weather is shifting from warmer to colder, and autumn has arrived, we invite you to bring extra layers, as at times the space can feel a bit chillier.▪ ARRIVALS:
We ask you all to arrive on time to the venue, especially for when you want to experience and see the performances. Late arrivals to the performances might be of disturbance of the process, and accordingly, you might need to wait outside, while the performance is taking place.
Humus - Co-creating a Festival for imagining Queer Futures is a volunteering teams project in High Priority Areas within the European Solidarity Corps Programme.Why Humus?Humus is the core part of the soil, the dark organic material in soils providing fertility. Humus is what is left from the before and is what we have for starting the new.Humus is a 3-year Volunteering Teams project aimed at creating more resilient communities fostering a healthy lifestyle and collective action on climate change as well as nurturing a sense of community to foster social inclusion, mobilizing young volunteers and enhancing civic and community engagement in local contexts.Humus - Co-creating a Festival for imagining Queer Futures, is one of the volunteering teams activities taking place within the long-term project in Riga, Latvia.This edition of the volunteering project is organized by Active Rainbow Biedrība, based in Riga, Latvia.The project involves 15 volunteers from European countries - Latvia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Germany and a team of 5 professionals in youth work, Queer education and activism, mentorship, and more, who are experienced in the different methods and tools that are used during the project, in the process of co-creating the festival and organizing this volunteering opportunity.
____________The RIOT! Festival is made by queer people for queer community and allies. The whole team, volunteers, coordinators and mentors are part of the queer community, and come from intersectional backgrounds - personal, cultural and professional.They come from and/or live in countries in Europe, where themselves and their fellow communities, experience forms of discrimination, oppression and marginalization because of their identities, where also right-wing movements are rising and freedom of expression and speech are endangered, and where safer spaces are becoming harder to find and even more to create.For our young queer team, the opportunity to be part of this volunteering project, where they are able to come together in a shared safer and braver space to express themselves, explore art, take accountability, build their community, create art and performances, connect with local community and hands-on learn how to organize a festival and enhance their competencies (knowledge, skills, attitudes) is a living rehearsal for freedom, where art becomes both a tool of expression and a practice of solidarity.
____________The festival is taking place at the Creative Factory Veldze, Radošā rūpnīca Veldze. It is also supported by local artists and community members who are taking part in the activities of the festival whether to share a performance, organize a workshop, be part of a queer market, and share their experiences through panel discussions.
(list of names to be updated).We are thankful for everyone who is joining us in this journey and contributes to the project and to the festival itself.
____________Humus project is co-funded by the European Union and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) via the European Solidarity Corps Programme.The volunteering project was initiated and created by dear partners of the organization, the Hopeland organization based in Greece. Other partners include: Olde Vechte Foundation (Netherlands), Synergy Bulgaria (Bulgaria) and Copiii în Sânul Familiei (Romania).
