On December 12, 2016, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia presented the Awards of Excellence in Culture in a ceremony in the Art Academy of Latvia. For the third year in a row the award is presented to three excellent cultural workers for international achievements. This year one of the awards went to RIXC co-founders, artists and curators – Rasa Smite and Raitis Smits.

Rasa Smite and Raitis Smits are artists and media art researchers, who work together since 1990s, exploring intersection of art, science and emerging technologies. They are key founders of RIXC Center for New Media Culture in Riga, curators of RIXC annual art science festival, and chief editors of Acoustic Space – peer-reviewed journal & book series.

Rasa Smite holds her PhD in sociology of culture and media, and works as associate professors in New Media Art program at Liepaja University. Raitis Smits has received his doctoral degree in arts from the Art Academy of Latvia, where he also works as an assistant professor.

Video about the winners (in Latvian) – http://skaties.lv/zinas/latvija/video-pasniegtas-latvijas-izcilibas-balvas-kultura/