History

1789-1933

February 7, 1789Catherine’s School ("Katharinaeum"), or Riga 3rd District School, started its activities at 55 Lāčplēša Street, Riga. 

August 15, 1919The Ministry of Education of the Republic of Latvia established the Handicraft Workshops and Workshops for Making Teaching Aids. The Handicraft Workshop was managed by V. Miezītis. 

1928The Artistic Craftwork Workshop were organised as part of the Handicraft Workshops under the Ministry of Education. 

October 1, 1931The Artistic Craftwork Courses were organised as part of the Handicraft Workshops under the Ministry of Education.

June 7, 1933Pursuant to Order No. 72 of the Minister for Education and Department of Schools, on 8 June 1933 the Artistic Craftwork Courses of the Handicraft Workshops under the Ministry of Education were transformed into the independent educational institution: Riga State Artistic Craftwork School. The school was directed by the artist Arvīds Dzērvītis.

 

1935-1942

1935International recognition: the school works were awarded with the Grand Prix for fabrics and embroideries and with the Grand Prix for the way the items were exhibited, i.e. for the methodical arrangement.

1936Riga State Artistic Craftwork School was renamed as Riga State School of Arts and Crafts, offering a three-year programme.

1937School of Arts and Crafts was established, with its departments offering classes in weaving, bookbinding and leather work, hammer work, ceramic work and women’s handicraft.

- Ceramics, textile, bookbinding and hammer work articles were displayed at the international exhibition in Paris.

1940The sculptor Kārlis Vanags was appointed as the interim acting headmaster of the school.
1942The artist Jēkabs Bīne became the head of the school.

 

1942-1988

1944-1953Jānis Ērglis, drawing teacher and methods specialist is the headmaster of the school.
1947-1953The training course lasted 5 years. The curriculum included general secondary school subjects. The number of students amounted to 144. The art was dominated by social realism.
Academic year 1949-1950 - Riga School of Arts and Crafts was expanded to include Riga Textile Arts Secondary School at 46 Dzirnavu Street. Textile Arts Department was established.
August 15, 1953Riga School of Arts and Crafts was renamed as Riga Secondary School of Applied Arts (RSSAA). The new unit, Art Pedagogy Department, was established, which was directed by B. Gladkovs.
1953-1959Meijers Furmans is the headmaster of the school.
Academic year 1954-1955RSSAA was operating in 3 buildingsat 55 Lāčplēša Street, 46 Dzirnavu Street and 24 Ludzas Street, 14 Stabu Street.
1955
The school started to offer preparatory courses in arts.

- The premises at 24 Ludzas Street were exchanged for premises at 39 Brīvības Street.

June 19, 1959 - The teacher Imants Žūriņš was appointed as the headmaster of the school. 

Academic year 1967-1968The school works were displayed at the international exhibition in Zagreb and at the USSR exhibition in London.

- The Knitted Garments Department was established.

1970-1990The school started to run Open Days, promoting its achievements, methodologies and good taste.
1978The exhibition dedicated to the 50th anniversary of RSSAA was held in the Riga National Museum of Art.
May 27, 1985The designer Ziedonis Grigorjevs was appointed as the headmaster of the school.

1988Exhibition RSSAA-60 took place in the Exhibition Hall Latvia. 

- The alumni gathered together in Ogre Culture House. The chief coordinator was Inese Pētersone, head of the Ceramics Department.

 

PERIOD OF THE RESTORED REPUBLIC OF LATVIA

1991Alvis Līdaks was appointed as the headmaster of the school.
1992Pursuant to the order of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, RSSAA was reconstituted as Riga College of Applied Arts (RCAA), offering a five-year training programme.
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia transferred the possession of the building at 139 K. Valdemāra Street and the hall of residence at 2 Ēveles Street to RCAA. The building at 55 Lāčplēša Street remained in the possession of the school.
1996Handicraft, Knitwear, Glass Processing, Leather Processing, Decorative Design, Modelling and Construction Departments started work in the building at 139 K. Valdemāra Street in addition to drawing and painting classes and the library. Classes of general subjects were transferred from 14 Stabu Street to the school. Metalworking, Woodcarving, Ceramics and Sculpture Departments continued work in the building at 55 Lāčplēša Street.
1997Students and teachers started participating in the international exchange programme Leonardo da Vinci on a regular basis.
1998An exhibition hall was opened in the school, providing for the opportunity to view annual exhibitions of graduation projects and exhibitions of graduate works, teachers, graduates and education programmes.
Cooperation partners: College of Art and Design in Switzerland, Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Sweden, Southwest Finland Institute for Art, Craft and Design and Estonian Academy of Arts.
December 4, 1999Exhibition "Baltic Sea Four" of the items from the Baltic Sea countries was opened in the exhibition hall. The school proved that its work was equivalent to that of universities and met the requirements of the contemporary design framework.

2000-2003The students of the school took part in the International Design Biennale of Saint-Etienne (France), the International Travelling Exhibition "Via Europea" and the exhibition "Design Inspirations" in Hannover (Germany).

January 7, 2002Pursuant to the order of K. Pētersone, Minister for Culture of the Republic of Latvia, RCAA was renamed as Riga School of Design and Art (RSDA), offering a four-year programme of study.

December 1, 2004Certificate of Merit from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia for successful participation in the International Design Biennale of Saint-Etienne 2004 and for the title "The best School of Biennalle" awarded. 

Academic year 2010-2011The school implemented 10 education programmes (Apparel Design, Design of Leather Goods, Form Design, Form Textile, Interior Design, Design of Ceramics, Woodwork Design, Metalwork Design, Glassware Design and Structure Textile).

Academic year 2013-2014Two new education programmes were established: Advertising Design with 4 years of study and Advertising Design (for students who have completed secondary education) with 2 years of study.

Academic year 2015-2016A new education programme was established: Design of Ceramics (for students who have completed secondary education) with 2 years of study.

November 3, 2015Pursuant to the order of the Cabinet of the Republic of Latvia, Riga School of Design and Art was assigned a status of the vocational education competence centre (VECC) and given a new name: Vocational Education Competence Centre RIGA SCHOOL OF DESIGN AND ART.

September 20, 2016 - Vocational Education and Training Excellence Center Riga Design and Art School receives European Union Erasmus+ Vocational Education and Training (VET) Mobility Charter.