There Are Nights When It's Better to Stay Awake!

This was the motto accompanying the contemporary culture forum BALTĀ NAKTS 2008. It is taking place in Riga for the third year, on the night of 30 to 31 August. The origins of this tradition are to be found in Paris, after which it was taken up by Brussels, Madrid, Rome, Porto, Bucharest, Valletta, Toronto, Tokyo, Montreal, Chicago, and Riga as well.

A manifestation of contemporary culture through the length of a night. As stated in the programme's introduction (available at www.baltanakts.lv) - "Night is able to provoke unexpected ideas, allows surprising experiments to develop, and offers a different perspective on familiar things. Darkness feeds human imagination."

A glimpse into this night's mysteries. In the square by the opera house, a stage from which VJ Robert Rich from the USA introduces the audience to ambient music.

In Vērmane's Garden, from 22:00 onward, the documentary film "Heima" ("Homeland") by the Icelandic musicians' collective Sigur Rós was screened. The trees adorned with strings of lights surrounded the viewers. In the darkness it looked like an island of light with the distinctive music of the Icelandic performers. The rain-soaked benches remained empty, though rows of people moved or stood frozen for a moment between them.

Tonight the surroundings of the Central Market could boast an unusual structure - the Pink House, or more precisely an inflatable tent containing... a massive pink pig. Not quite in the spirit of Teodors Zaļkalns, but a proper pig nonetheless.

Computer screens reflecting the realities of the urban environment, and also a woman's silhouette - associatively, the silhouette of Milda.

Right there too - the urban commotion: an orchestra of experimental sound devices. The acoustic effect between two warehouse buildings created surreal sensations; eardrums could barely withstand the sonic pressure.

And then to the Universe Listening Station at RIXC Media Space. The signals captured by the Irbene radio telescope were more reminiscent of a helicopter army's landing manoeuvre.

To conclude - the most tangible of the projects: a puppet and circus night in Arkādija Park. Night mysteries of a city park.

At night, many things look different.