About us

ISSP is a platform for contemporary photography, art and education. 

Since its establishment in 2006, ISSP has annually organised the International Summer School of Photography, initiated local and international education and exchange programmes, produced exhibitions, publications and events, and, most importantly, gathered a thriving community of artists in Latvia and abroad.

The ISSP School offers practice-based educational programmes, masterclasses and mentoring programmes for photographers and artists in Latvia. Since 2021, the ISSP Youth School offers photography and visual literacy education activities for teenagers. 

The ISSP Gallery, opened in 2018, is the central exhibition and events space for contemporary photography in Riga, Latvia, hosting exhibitions by local and international artists and an extensive public programme.

Since 2019, ISSP is exploring the connections between art and society and supporting emergent socially engaged art practices in Latvia - projects in this area include mentorship programmes, summer schools, workshops and discussion series for artists and culture workers focus on various aspects of art and society.

ISSP is an active member of the Association of Contemporary Culture NGOs in Latvia, an umbrella organization with the aim of improving the environment for cultural NGOs and promoting contemporary culture practices in Latvia.

ISSP employs 6 staff members and a teaching staff of over 20 educators and artists. Every year, around 250 people are learning photography within its different programmes; our exhibitions are attended by around 4000 people each year.

Find us on Facebook and @ISSP_latvia on Instagram.