Valmieras muzejā būs skatāma izstāde “Jūras ļaundaru laboratorija” sadarbībā ar Vides izglītības fondu

From September 14, 2026, to November 13, children and adults are invited to explore the traveling exhibition “Marine Villains' Laboratory” at the Maršner House of the Valmiera Museum, created by the Environmental Education Fund based on data from the “Mana jūra” campaign. The aim of the exhibition is to build an understanding from an early age of the impact of human actions on the environment, encouraging people to realize their role in nature conservation.

Looking at the situation on the Latvian coast, a worrying indicator was recorded last year – an average of 306 pieces of waste for every 100 meters of beach. This is significantly more than would be acceptable on a healthy and clean coast. Although increasingly strict regulations to restrict the use of plastic are coming into force in the European Union, the amount of plastic waste in Latvia continues to grow. This trend clearly shows that legislation alone is not enough. Active public participation and a change in habits are also required.

Visitors to the exhibition will encounter special characters – marine “villains” created from waste found on the Latvian coast: balloons, bottle caps, ropes, confetti, cigarette butts, and other pollutants. Artists Rūta Briede, Evija Stukle-Zuitiņa, and Ilona Valaine-Blekte have transformed waste into visually impressive characters – the Spotted Single-Eater, the Plastic Medusa, the Smoker, and other monsters that symbolically reveal the impact of pollution on our marine ecosystem.

“Marine Villains' Laboratory” is both educational and creative. It allows children and adults to explore the problem of marine pollution in an engaging way, while prompting everyone to think about how everyday choices can make the environment cleaner. Inspired by this exhibition, an animation series “A clean sea starts with You!” has been created, which can also be seen at the exhibition in Valmiera.

We invite everyone to meet the marine villains and learn how changing everyday habits can help the sea and nature!

For individual visits, the exhibition at Maršner House is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 to 17.00. Free admission.

Separate paid sessions are also available for both preschool and school groups at the Valmiera Museum from Monday to Friday. Detailed information and registration by calling 28172770 or writing to the e-mail ilona.apinite@valmierasnovads.lv.

On October 24, a free session on water pollution “Skudra Urda pēta ūdeni” offered by SIA “ZAAO” Nature and Technology Park “URDA” will take place at the Valmiera Museum for families with children. Registration in advance is required for the session, the number of places is limited; further information about this will follow.

Exhibition artists: Rūta Briede, Evija Stukle-Zuitiņa, Ilona Valaine-Blekte, Jānis Mercs, Artis Briedis, Inga Rušmane, and SIA Mooseberry

Animation author: Aivars Baranovs

The exhibition is implemented with the financial support of the European Union LIFE program and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development.

www.wastetoresources.kem.gov.lv

Within the framework of the LIFE integrated project “Waste To Resources Latvia – Boosting Regional Sustainability and Circularity by Implementing the Waste-to-Resources Concept” (LIFE Waste To Resources IP, LIFE20 IPE/LV/000014).