Folk Applied Arts Studio “Austra”

The history of the studio “Austra” began in 1969 at Riga Secondary School No. 5 in a weaving club led by teacher Skaidrīte Sarkane, and since 2015 it has been led by master craftswoman Aina Bernava of the Latvian Chamber of Crafts at the Crafts House of the “Iļģuciems” Cultural Centre. The studio teaches weaving techniques, colour theory, and the basics of composition while exploring folk cultural heritage. Participants create floor runners, towels, tablecloths, pillows, shawls, and blankets in both archaeological and contemporary fabrics. They take part in masterclasses and craft demonstrations, in the Latvian National Centre for Culture project “Meet Your Master”, as well as in annual exhibitions at the “Iļģuciems” Cultural Centre and national applied arts exhibitions in Latvia and abroad. The studio’s works are documented in the book “Latvian Blankets for the Millennium”.