The Latvian State Archive of Audiovisual Documents (hereinafter referred to as the Archive) is one of the largest preserver of the cultural and historical heritage of Latvia. It contains unique and comprehensivedocuments revealing the life of our country in audiovisual documents (film and video), photo documents and audio documents. The mission of the Archive is not only to accumulate and preserve visual evidence regarding Latvia, but also to make it available for anyone interested.
In the course of the project the Archive has created a new multimedia website - See, Hear Latvia! (Redzi, dzirdi Latviju!) www.redzidzirdilatviju.lv, where it is possible to remotely search and learn information from the Archives’ databases about the audiovisual documents, photo documents and audio documents from the 1850s to nowadays, that are available in the Archives.
Section Films, which was created first and has been available since July 2016 features information about newsreels and various documental recordings, as well as feature films, documentaries, animations, popular science films, advertisement films and films of other genres, created both by audiovisual professionals and amateurs from 1910 to the present day. Currently the website has published video files from newsreels and film recordings, created between 1910 and 1959. Some films can be viewed in the portal www.filmas.lv, with which our site has been linked. Information of this feature is provided in the particular film view field.
The Photos section, with which the website has been significantly expanded since February 2018, provides information about the Archives’ wide and thematically versatile photo document collections which reflect history, events and people of Latvia since 1850s. We offer to get acquainted with the sights of Riga, where the capital’s squares, parks, streets, buildings and bridges are shown as they were 150 years ago. Some of the most significant photo collections reflect the establishment of the Republic of Latvia in 1918 and the period of the Latvian War of Independence between 1918 and 1920. The available information is also visually supplemented by photo files.
Section Audio documents joined the website in June 2018 and provides an insight into the Archives’ collections of audio documents, bringing together documental audio records and music records since the late 19th century up to nowadays. Significant and valuable historical evidence is the collections of documental audio records from the late 1980s and early 1990s falling within the period of the Latvian National Awakening, restoration of the Republic of Latvia, interviews and the speeches of the state politicians, culture representatives and well-known persons, radio programs of Latvian exiles. Information is supplemented by audio files.
In December 2020, the Archive opened a new section Collectionsthat offers a variety of thematic document selections (for example Sport, Architecture, Medicine, Personalities) that are regularly updated. It is possible to leave comments with additional information under the documents.
In our website we offer a possibility for anyone to watch the accumulated newsreels and documental recordings, view photos and listen to audio documents without any availability restrictions. Videos, photos and audio files not available at the website can be accessed in the Archive.
The Archive provides a free access to audiovisual document, photo document and audio document database information found in the Latvian State Archive of Audiovisual Documents to all website visitors. Any user can search for information of his or her interest in the site, select required documents and create lists as well as create document favourites corresponding to wishes and goals of each user. Anyone can forward the selected information about the documents to an e-mail or print it, view videos and photos, listen to audio files in the site and order copies of the Archive’s documents by means of e-services provided by the National Archives of Latvia.
Currently only a part of audiovisual documents, photo documents and audio documents from the database content is available in the website. Information in the website can be supplemented and improved to publish all data about documents gathered in the Archive. If you did not find the information you need in the website, please contact the Latvian State Archive of Audiovisual Documents.
The project was implemented by the Latvian State Archive of Audiovisual Documents and Profero Ltd. in cooperation with the Latvian Association of Archivists. The project is supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation.
In 2016 the Latvian Open Technology Association awarded the National Archives of Latvia a prize in nomination “The most open institution” for the website www.redzidzirdilatviju.lv created by the Latvian State Archive of Audiovisual Documents.
