On 26 August, the artist residency "SustainARTability" will be launched at Art Academy of Latvia, bringing together nine students from Latvia and nine students from other EU countries—including Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Finland, France, Italy, and Spain—as well as the UK. Over ten days, the students will work together to create a work of art inspired by the everyday challenges of a sustainable lifestyle and document the creative process.

Sustainability is currently closely linked to activism, which often manifests itself in public demonstrations, performances, posters and slogans. Protests often see the emergence of opposing fronts, each with its own beliefs and symbols. One of the oldest symbols used to demonstrate group affiliation is the flag.

Embracing the idea of promoting sustainability and recognising art as a powerful tool for understanding and addressing this global issue, each artist's creative process will begin with a piece of white cotton fabric in the shape of a flag—traditionally seen as a symbol of surrender. In this residency, however, the students will transform this symbol by creating a group exhibition called 'No White Flags', which aims to reverse this meaning and symbolise a refusal to surrender.

As part of the exhibition, the white flags will be transformed into works of art—paintings, installations and conceptual messages—through which each artist will express their personal reflections on the concept of sustainability. The aim of the project is to engage the viewer, promote public understanding of sustainability issues and stimulate discussion on this timely topic.

To develop and refine their ideas, the residency participants will attend lectures and workshops led by experienced artists and SustainARTability project mentors, Kristians Brekte and Ieva Stalšene. These activities will provide participants with a deeper understanding of the concept of sustainability, the role of art in promoting it, and the tools necessary to successfully create works that resonate with society and promote positive change.

The opening of the exhibition and a public presentation of the works created during the residency will take place on 5 September at 17.00 at the art space DUO, 4 Kronvalda Boulevard.

The project is organised by the EUNIC Cluster Latvia in cooperation with the Art Academy of Latvia and funded by the EUNIC Cluster Fund. The European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) has 39 members from all EU member states and associated countries. The British Council in Latvia, the Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the Goethe-Institut Riga, the French Institute in Latvia, the Embassy of Austria in Latvia, the Embassy of Greece in Riga, the Embassy of Italy in Riga, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Latvia and the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Latvia are participating in EUNIC Latvia.

EUNIC is the European network of organisations working in the field of cultural relations. Together with its partners, it brings European cultural cooperation to life in more than 100 countries worldwide through a network of 140 clusters, drawing on the wide experience of its members from all EU Member States and Associated Countries.