On July 26, as part of the Cēsu city festival, the annual AS “Cēsu alus” Cēsnieks award will be presented. This year, the winner of the Cēsnieks 2014 title is the person who marked the name of the city of Cēsu on the map of Latvia and the world with a bright and valuable cultural event – this is the director of the Cēsu art festival, Juris Žagars.
The organizers of the Cēsu art festival say: “Cēsu city has always played a significant role in the cultural context of Latvia. In recent years, the name of the city is becoming more and more known in the international arena, thanks to the boom in tourism and, especially, cultural tourism. The Cēsu brand has been formed by long-lasting and stable art traditions, and currently the Cēsu art festival, which took place for the first time in 2007, can be considered one of the signs of the city’s recognition. not only regional, but also national recognition.”
The contribution of this event to the development of the cultural life of Cēsu has been appreciated by both the city guests and the citizens of Cēsis themselves, who this year specifically recommended Juri Žagar, director of the Cēsu art festival, to be nominated for the Cēsu alus award and the title of Cēsnieks.
Eva Sietiņsone – Zatlere, chairperson of the board of Cēsu alus: “We are really happy that Cēsis is more and more clearly and loudly presenting itself as a potential cultural capital of Latvia, creating a platform for various art and cultural events outside of Riga. Cēsu alus and other Cēsu entrepreneurs take care of creating and maintaining a quality work environment in Cēsis, while events such as the Cēsu art festival and now also the new Vidzeme concert hall “Cēsis” provides high-quality cultural development opportunities for residents of the Cēsu city, as well as guests and tourists. By nominating Juri Žagar – the director of the Cēsu art festival and the chairman of the board of the Vidzeme concert hall “Cēsis” – for the Cēsu alus award and the title Cēsisnieks 2014, we express the respect and gratitude of all Cēsis residents to Juri Žagar for his contribution to the creation of Cēsu’s art and cultural life over many years.”
Juris Žagars receives the Cēsnieks award again, the first time it was presented in 2007 – for the creation of the recreation and skiing park Žagarkalns and active activity in the Cēsu castle guild. Based on the recommendations of the cēsnieks, this year the title of Cēsnieks will be presented to Juri Žagar again.
The Cēsnieks 2014 award will be presented at the Cēsu city festival on July 26 at 5 p.m. in Rožu laukum, Cēsis. The presentation of the award is a public event, therefore residents of Cesis, guests of the city and visitors of the Cēsu art festival are welcome to join and congratulate Juri Žagar on receiving the award and title.
Since 1999, the Cēsnieks Award has been presented every summer to representatives of the culture, science, history, sports or social spheres of the city of Cēsu, who have done their work excellently and from the heart, and whose performance has had a positive impact on the reputation and life of the city of Cēsu over a period of time. The awardee is chosen annually by the city’s residents in cooperation with JSC “Cēsu alus”.
Until now, the following have received the title of Cēsis:
- Nata Livonska, manager of the Cēsu exhibition house
- Pastor Krists Kalniņš
- Musician Igor Graps
- Artist Ivars Prauliņš
- Verners Rudzītis, chairman of the board of Cēsu district newspaper “Druva”.
- Cēsu Pastariņa school director Ieva Eglīte
- Archaeologist Sigrida Apala
- Cēsu council chairman Gints Škenders
- Actor and businessman Juris Žagars
- Cēsu State gymnasium teacher and director Inese Lāce
- Cēsu 15th scout unit leader Gunards Bērziņš
- A. Kalniņa Cēsu Music School teacher and St. St. John’s Church organist Lelde Krastiņa
- Cēsu evening high school history teacher Daumants Vasmanis
- A.Kalniņa Cēsu music high school teacher Visvaldis Grāvītis
- Cēsu floorball team Lekring
