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TIL stands for Today I Learned. It is commonly used on social media to introduce something interesting and unexpected.

Tilia cordata translates from Latin as hearted linden. Its range extends from Britain through mainland Europe to the Caucasus and western Asia. The biggest and the oldest linden in the Baltics – Elku Liepa – happens to grow just a few metres away from the residency, giving its heartfelt blessing and inspiration.

The residency was established to provide artists and creatives with a space for calm concentration and creativity in the increasingly unpredictable and ever-changing  world. 

TIL is located in a historic building in the picturesque Western Latvian town of Valdemarpils. Surrounded by century-old linden trees, serene lakes and lush fields, TIL is the perfect place to find inspiration and let your thoughts flow freely, shaping new bold ideas. Here storks nest along the roads running along abundant orchards and houses that remember generations upon generations of people who lived, created, worked and dreamt, protected by the stone walls. This intersection of the Latvian heartland and the coast is both hidden from the troubles of the outer world and open to its endless possibilities. We believe it to be the perfect place for new ideas and projects to emerge and flourish.

With such an environment in mind, we envisioned TIL as a platform to connect local and global, experiment and tradition, to bring together the many manners of contemporary art, to be that crossroads of ideas, where visionary cultural projects may come to life. The residency programme is tailored to help our guests develop their work, to provide guidance, to stimulate sharing of knowledge. We also aim at bringing contemporary culture into the local context by hosting a range of lectures, workshops, readings and exhibitions.

TIL’s mission is to provide a peaceful and supportive environment for artists, non-artists, curators, educators, thinkers, writers and creatives of  all kinds to nurture their ideas. We welcome applicants from all over the world and at different stages of their careers.  A panel of renowned professionals from various creative industries selects participants through open calls.

TIL provides residents with private rooms and full access to all site amenities, including studio spaces, workshops, the library, garden, and communal kitchen. The site offers everything residents need to live comfortably and work creatively.