“Pack Yourself, We’re Going to the Art Fair” is a kick-off social event for curators and artists, hosted by the global art platform FOLLOW.ART, to warm up before the Riga Contemporary art fair. 

This session is for curators and artists who want to improve their self-presentation without the pressure to perform or pretend. It features a panel discussion with expert insights, followed by a practical workshop offering personalized feedback. 

We often hear that networking in the art world is key, but really, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath it lies all the unseen work that leads to truly great connections and opportunities. 

What’s it like to hear your voice on a recording? We think we know how we sound, but we’re often surprised when we hear ourselves from the outside. The same goes for self-presentation in the art industry: we might think we know how we come across, but do we truly understand how others see and perceive us? 

Experts will share their insights and offer practical advice: 

🔸 How to present your work in a way that feels authentic? 
🔸 What signals are we sending to others, and how can we become aware of them?
🔸 What are some practical tips for building a portfolio that reflects your practice?
🔸 And yes, is networking without a drink even possible? 

Panel discussion participants: 

🔹 Candy Choi – a curator from Hong Kong, founder of the Young Blood Initiative, and a member of the Disobedient Collective. She has developed her artistic and curatorial practices across London, Amsterdam, and Riga 
🔹 Ieva Stalšene – an artist from Riga, Latvia, whose practice spans theatre, fine arts, and curating, shaped by a decade of experience in directing, scenography, painting, and cultural management 
🔹 Raivis Alksnis – curator, co-founder of LOOK! art gallery, member of the Visual Arts Expert Commission of the State Culture Capital Foundation, and jury member of the Latvian Art Annual Award 
🔹 Evelīna Gorbačova – Head of Digital Development at FOLLOW.ART
🔹 Veronika Gorbačova – curator and Head of the Curatorial Department at FOLLOW.ART 

Participation is open to artists and curators only. Entry is free of charge, but places are limited, so pre-registration is required. 

You can register for the event here.