Festival Scenography
Estere Betija Grāvere (Latvia)This year, the festival scenographer is Estere Betija Grāvere.
She is the designer of the festival’s visual identity and the layout of the festival centre.
The New Theatre Institute of Latvia and the festival Homo Novus is part of the European Union project Festival SPA. This year, we want to shape the festival as a symbolic spa space, where the performing arts become a form of expressing care. This means that we want to create a safe and welcoming environment for festival visitors, participants and the organisational team alike.
Estere Betija Grāvere says: “Daugava is one of the most important habitats for swans in Latvia, particularly mute swans, and they are regularly found both along the river and in the delta.
As a peaceful observer and inhabitant of the landscape, the swan echoes the festival’s call to pay attention to the surrounding environment, to spending time together, and to a slower pace of life.
It lives amidst water, land and air, becoming a symbol for liminal states and different perspectives.”
EASY READ VERSION
This year, the festival artist is Estere Betija Grāvere.
She created the symbol of the festival.
She also made the scenography
and designed the festival center.
In 2026, Homo Novus invites people:
– to live slower,
– to rest more,
– to take care of each other.
Estere Betija Grāvere found that the swans live
exactly like that.
So she chose the swan as the festival symbol.
The artist explains:
“The Daugava is a very important river in Latvia.
It is important for both people and swans.
Swans are often found on the banks of the Daugava.
Swans are calm birds.
They watch everything around.
They become a part of the landscape.
This matches the festival’s call to live slower.
Also, a swan can fly, swim, and walk.
A swan sees the world from above, from water, and from ground.
In the same way, Homo Novus shows people
different points of view on life.”
par mākslinieci
Estere Betija Grāvere (1996, Riga) is an artist and designer working across publishing, graphic design, moving image, and installation. Rooted in printmaking, her recent practice has expanded towards participatory projects that explore collaboration, hosting, and the ways design can facilitate collective experiences. Grāvere received her bachelor’s degree from the Printmaking Department of the Art Academy of Latvia. As part of the Erasmus programme, she studied for one year at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. She has participated in various group exhibitions in Latvia and internationally. Grāvere recently graduated from the master’s programme at Werkplaats Typografie in the Netherlands.
The festival’s visual identity was developed as part of a residency within the EU Creative Europe programme project The Big Green, held in Ķemeri National Park. The project was implemented with financial support from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. The New Theatre Institute of Latvia is responsible for the content of the visual identity.
