On May 25, 2024, during a vibrant community celebration featuring the Ice Cream Festival and Rūjiena’s Name Day festivities, the town was honored with the BSR Cultural Pearl 2024 title. The award was presented by Dr. Kazimierz Musiał, representing the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS)—the project lead partner of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region initiative “Cultural Pearls of the Baltic Sea Region for more sustainable cities and regions”.
The award ceremony took place in the presence of local residents and guests from far and wide. Speeches of thanks were delivered by Jānis Baiks, Chair of the Valmiera County Council; Ivo Virsis, Head of the Rūjiena Association administration; and Guna Kalniņa‑Priede, Head of Vidzeme Planning Region administration and a project partner.
Dr. Musiał remarked:
“The Cultural Pearl title is a great opportunity to highlight Rūjiena—its uniqueness—not only on a regional but also on a national and European level. It supports efforts to bring citizens of different ages and interests together through cultural events. Already, much has been done in the town: a community meeting space has been created at Rīgas Street 8, various events have already taken place there, and a series of diverse events is planned through the end of this year. We look forward to seeing Rūjiena’s continued development.”
This special recognition celebrates Rūjiena’s outstanding Culture and Resilience Action Plan, as the town embarks on an intensive, year-long programme of cultural events and community initiatives designed to build stronger social cohesion and resilience.
