For the fourth year in a row, the Art Academy of Latvia has awarded the Academia Prize, which provides a support programme for young professionals in the creative industries. The aim of the prize is to create an infrastructure that develops new and innovative models of cooperation between an art higher education institution and the promotion of its graduate's international professional career.

The support programme is extended over two years, providing an opportunity for an AAL graduate to gain international experience and to collaborate with professionals in the field, in order to then implement the acquired knowledge in their creative practice in Latvia and throughout the Baltic region.

This year, the Academia 2024 prize goes to Oto Holgers Ozoliņš, a graduate of the AAL Master's programme in Sculpture, with his diploma work "Above the ground".

In the first year of the award programme, the collaboration is implemented together with the Helen Scott Lidgett Studio Award 2024/2025 (London) and the ACME programme, which provides a year-long paid art residency, scholarship and living expenses in London. The residency includes consultancy and studio visits, collaborations with various art institutions and professionals, and the creation of an exhibition at the end of the residency.

In the second year of the programme, the prize winner is provided with a free studio in Riga. During this year, workshop visits are organised, Latvian and Baltic art institutions are visited, and artists and other art professionals are consulted. At the end of the year, a solo exhibition at the PILOT gallery is organised.

Collaboration partners: Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London) , Helen Scott Lidgett Studio and ACME