Kalnciema Quarter (“BC manufaktura”) (KQ) is Riga based SME working for 15 years in placemaking, urban revitalisation and interdisciplinary culture projects. The quarter is engaged with market fairs, farmers markets, cultural and creative economy activities. An ensemble of buildings representing 18th / 19th century wooden architecture, Kalnciema Street significantly influences the perception of Riga City centre – the UNESCO World Heritage Site, being the gateway from the International Airport to the heart of the city. The location has provided an additional opportunity for effective awareness-raising of the architecture heritage. The renovated Kalnciema Quarter has been opened to the public and hosts series of cultural events – festivals, concerts, cinema, exhibitions, design shops, an architect’s studio. Since 2008 weekly the quarter hosts farmers and artisan markets which are increasingly popular among city dwellers and bring producers and consumers together in a festive environment and atmosphere.

The originality of the farmers’ market concept and nature of innovation builds on associating short chain delivery with other cultural and economic activities and new urban social movements. Kalnciema Quarter is an example of new multifunctional urban space which provides a platform for diverse economic and cultural activities. Kalnciema Quarter’s expertise include: Community and stakeholder engagement: design and facilitation of participatory processes that engage people in shaping organisations, places, and communities. Collaborative Planning: rising genuine dialogue, building shared understanding, and supporting creative collaboration amongst diverse stakeholders. Place Making: facilitation of the co-creation of great public places – markets, gardens, waterfronts, streets, parks, postindustrial areas are subjects to change. Social Innovation: building and measuring social value through the design and evaluation of social projects, programs, and services.

Specialties of Kalnciema Quarter: community development, place making, community planning, collaborative planning, community capacity building, project/program/service design, social innovation, program evaluation, urban revitalisation, heritage awareness, local food chains, stakeholder engagement. Agenskalna market: Agenskalna market is the latest and ongoing urban revitalization project for Kalnciema Quarter team – an inclusive, versatile and environmentally friendly public space, hosting a wide variety of cultural, educational and other events in collaboration with neighborhood citizens and organizations. The revitalization of Agenskalna market embodies a compelling example of an initiative by a social enterprise that transforms abandoned cultural heritage to foster a profound sense of belonging, co-creation and inclusivity. Open since 1898, it is a historic market owned by the municipality and holds the status of being a regional monument of culture. In 2018, the market faced closure due to its deteriorated and dilapidated state. A team of one of the most vibrant urban spaces in Riga (Kalnciema Quarter) took the private initiative to revitalize the market with its own resources and re-opened Agenskalna market in 2022. Market gathers local farmers and Street Food stalls, develops sustainable ideas and contemporary tendencies, collaborates with creative people, civic activists and businesses from the neighbourhood and beyond. Paralelly you can also enjoy rich cultural life – concerts, workshops, discussions, performances etc.